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Husband told wife impaled by falling tree: ‘I won’t let you die’

A husband whose wife was impaled by a falling tree in a freak accident tried to reassure by telling her he wouldn’t let her die.

Elaine Davison, 55, suffered fatal injuries after the 13ft branch crashed through the windscreen of the car she was travelling in with her husband in Wakefield, West Yorkshire, in November 2010.

A 13ft branch penetrated Elaine’s chest, who was sat in the front seat. She later died from her injuries in hospital after doctors battled for 30 minutes to try and save her.

Her husband, Edward, escaped with just a splinter to his finger, an inquest at Wakefield Coroner’s Court was told.

The couple, from Pontefract, had left Pinderfields Hospital at 8pm that night after visiting their daughter Natalie who suffers from Crohn’s disease.

They were driving home along the A642 – a 30mph main road to an inner section of the M62 – “crunching” over tree debris which had fallen into the road.

Edward, from Pontefract, told an inquest how minutes later the car started “shaking” because of “blustery” winds which frightened his wife Elaine.

Elaine and Edward Davison were driving along the A642 at the time of the freak accident (Geograph)
Elaine and Edward Davison were driving along the A642 at the time of the freak accident (Geograph)

He said: “All of a sudden, there was a loud bang and a crash. For a split second I saw something fall into the road directly in front of the car.

“I braked immediately but the tree caused the car to go up onto two wheels and I put my arm across Elaine to protect her from the potential impact but the car stopped.

“I could feel a strong breeze gushing through the car and I immediately saw that the windscreen was shattered.

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“I went into a blind panic and asked Elaine if she was ok, she replied ‘no I’m hurt’.

“Her head was slumped to one side, I kept talking to her saying it would be alright.”

He added: “The only other thing she said to me was ‘don’t let me die, will you?’ and I said ‘no, I won’t’.

Elaine was rushed to Pinderfields hospital, where she died of her injuries (Geograph)
Elaine was rushed to Pinderfields hospital, where she died of her injuries (Geograph)

“That’s one of the hardest things. It’s the first time I’ve ever had to lie to her and I can’t take it back.”

Fire crews cut Elaine free from the wreckage after removing the roof of the car.

A female nurse who had been driving behind them had pulled over to help before paramedics rushed her to Pinderfields Hospital where she later died of her injuries.

A post-mortem concluded that she died of an abdomen haemorrhage.

Edward was taken to hospital with scratches and grazes, but was discharged the next day.

West Yorkshire Fire Rescue Service watch commander Michael Ferries said the wind on the night of Mrs Davison’s death was the “strongest he had experienced as an adult” and described the sound of trees shaking like “rifle cracks”.

Elaine suffered from arthritis and diabetes, but was later diagnosed with heart problems.

She was a dedicated community leader and organised meetings for the neighbourhood watch and also fundraised for her local youth club by designing birthday cards but later had to step down due to ill health.

The inquest continues.

Top pic: SWNS