40-foot tree falls as Nazareth pool swimmers dive out of way

FROM THE MORNING CALL

40-foot section of a maple tree fell next to the Nazareth Borough Park pool Thursday afternoon, narrowly missing a half dozen swimmers who scrambled when they heard a popping sound.

Molly Kilpatrick, a pool lifeguard, said no one was hurt when the massive limb collapsed at 4:25 p.m.

"It was a very close call," she said. "There was a group of people sitting right under it, and they had just stood up." They leaped out of the way as the branch came down.


A few small branches landed in the pool, where 150 people were swimming to beat the heat.

"I was in the baby pool when it happened," Kilpatrick said. "I heard a loud crack, but I couldn't see it from where I was."

Lifeguards blew their whistles to get everyone out of the pool, and then they checked to be sure no one was under the heavy timber.

Late Thursday afternoon, pool officials were trying to figure out what to do with the wood. Swimming quickly resumed.

http://www.mcall.com/news/breaking/mc-nazareth-tree-falls-at-pool-wpic-20100722,0,4567947.story