Tributes paid to devoted mother, 32, killed by falling tree branch - a split second after pushing daughter to safety

Madia Kauser, 32, was walking in Witton Country Park in Blackburn with her husband Wasim Khan, 32, and their two children - a nine-year-old boy and a five-year-old girl - on Monday, when she was fatally struck.

Recalling the tragic incident, Mr Khan told the Sun: "I was playing football with my son and kicked the ball in the wrong direction and we were going after it.

"I heard a crack and the tree just came down. There was no wind, nothing.

"She was hit by a branch but it had the full weight of the tree behind it and that is why the council had to cut it all down.

"I rushed to her. I tried to save her, she was still breathing."

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Police were called to the scene near the Buncer Lane entrance of the park just after 8.30pm on Monday, but she was pronounced dead shortly afterwards.

The couple's daughter was reportedly in a pushchair and her mother is believed to have moved her out of the way just in time.

Mr Khan said his wife was "the most beautiful and loyal person you would ever wish to meet".

"She was loved by many but especially her children. We are left here without her," he added.

Zamir Khan, Ms Kauser's great-uncle, who is a Blackburn with Darwen councillor, told the BBC his great-niece was "very kind-hearted and would go out of her way for anyone".

He said family members from all over the country had travelled to Blackburn to attend her funeral, which is due to take place today.

Blackburn with Darwen Council, which owns the 480-acre park, said it was "deeply saddened" and had since chopped down the beech tree from which the branch had fallen.

The local authority's chief executive Denise Park said: "Our thoughts and heartfelt condolences are with the family and friends of the person who has lost their life at this very difficult time."

Lancashire Police said it was preparing a file for the coroner and said the woman's death was not being treated as suspicious.

Local councillor Paul Marrow said: "There have been concerns about ash dieback disease and the number of dead trees in Witton Park and across the borough.

"The council needs to make regular, thorough inspections of the trees in the park to ensure they are safe."