Australian comedian Tony Knight killed by falling tree in freak accident at festival

An Australian comedian has sadly died in a freak accident with a falling tree at 54 years old.

Tony Night tragically lost his life while attending the Rock and Cars festival in Lavaur, southern France, on Saturday, June 7, a family member confirmed.

The funny man and dog specialist was reportedly struck by a falling tree branch, which injured him and six others but tragically Tony was the only one who did not survive the incident, reports the Mirror.

A fundraiser has been set up to support Tony's heartbroken wife of 15 years Hayley by his sister Joanne.

It reads: "Tony had been in France only a few days before he lost his life attending a festival with his friend Pascall, and never made it home."

The grieving sibling remembered Tony as a "charismatic, funny, passionate and so very loved" individual whose life revolved around his love for dogs, helping people globally through various mediums including in-person classes, online courses, radio and TV appearances, ebooks, and more.

The late comedian's methods in dog training were highly regarded, earning him respect and admiration worldwide. To support his partner who is dealing with funeral arrangements, Joanne initiated a GoFundMe campaign earlier this week, which has already gathered $4695 in donations.

Tony's expertise as a "dog listener" was sought after by many, including celebrities like Molly Meldrum, Sonia Kruger, and even the Dubai Royal Family.

Tony's sister Joanne spoke to Daily Mail Australia, saying: "He had just started to live the life he dreamed of, working with dogs while travelling the world and having a home in a quaint French town."

"If he had a thought, he never believed he couldn't do it and just went for it."

The mayor of Lavaur, Bernard Carayon also shared his dismay at the tragic news and said: "Never has such a dramatic event happened in our town. I have expressed our profound compassion to the family in this difficult time," he stated.

Fans have also paid their respects. One said: "Tony was a talented and loyal friend who loved life, and we loved him. We are sending all our love to dear Jan in England and Hayley in France."

Following the sad news, Tony's last Instagram post - shared hours before his death - has prompted several admirers to head to the comment section. "Just heard the awful news I’m devastated- I feel like I’ve lost a friend

"My heart goes out to Hayley Jan and his family friends and Lewis and Gypsy of course Such a loss - life is so fragile", one notably wrote.

Don't miss the latest news from around Scotland and beyond - Sign up to our daily newsletter here.