A WOMAN who was knocked unconscious when a 6ft-long tree branch fell 50ft on to her head, says she feels lucky to be alive.

Dawn Lister, 44, of London Road, Leigh, was walking through Belfairs Wood with partner Mark Goodson, ironically to try and walk off a headache, when the branch came crashing down on her, knocking her to the floor, while also cutting Mr Goodson, 53, across the face.

The pair were able to get themselves to Accident and Emergency at Southend Hospital following the terrifying ordeal and Miss Lister was released later that evening, having been put in neck and head braces.

She said: “Wewere just out for a walk in the woods and a branch fell off this 50ft high tree and landed straight on my head.

“I don’t actually remember it happening. All I remember is being on the floor with a very sore head, and I spent the whole day in hospital after that.

"Doctors said if it had been a little bit one way or the other, it could have broken my neck.

“I’ve had to take the whole week off work to recover. I feel very lucky to be alive.”

A council spokesman confirmed the authority has overall responsibility for Belfairs Park and Essex Wildlife Trust undertakes coppicing to reduce the risk of branches falling from trees but added it could not account for privately owned woodland around the park.

However, as the incident occurred at about 4pm on the Sunday during the recent bank holiday weekend, Miss Lister said she was unable to contact anyone from the council to inform them of the incident.

She said: “There was no one to get in touch either at the council or the Essex Wildlife Trust. I felt the area should have been sealed off as there were children playing there.”