Camper dies after tree falls on tent in Cornwall
- Published
A man has died after a tree fell on to his tent at a country park in Cornwall.
Businessman Ryan O'Carroll, 25, from Southampton, had been camping while on a surfing holiday at Tehidy Country Park near Camborne when the tree fell at about 00:30 BST on Saturday.
He sustained serious head injuries and was taken to Derriford Hospital in Plymouth, where he later died.
He was staying with his wife and younger brother in a hammock tent suspended between trees.
Mr O'Carroll's wife Stephanee Leal O'Carroll paid tribute to her husband on Instagram where she described him as "very loved and admired by everyone".
Mr O'Carroll's family released a statement through his company, Yo Telecom, which described him as "determined, head strong and passionate about life".
His parents, Giselle and Jeff O'Carroll, said: "He had built a successful telecoms business with his partner, Nathan. Employing close to 60 staff, including his brother Derek and sister Jess".
"We are very proud that he was our son and what he achieved, his legacy will forever go on.
"He will be sorely missed and loved by us deeply," they said.
Natalie Jupp, 37, was one of the first people to offer help after Mr O'Carroll had been injured.
She said she was driving home in the early hours of Saturday morning when she saw a torchlight in the woods near the East Lodge of the park.
"There was a young boy flagging us down at the entrance to the woodlands," she said.
Ms Jupp said two people were trapped in the tent when she and her family arrived at the scene.
They helped Mrs Leal O'Carroll escape from the tent and tried to move the tree from on top of Mr O'Carroll.
Mrs Jupp and her 19-year-old son Daniel performed first aid on him before the emergency services attended.
"It was horrifying and a freak accident," she said.
She said she believed the two people were staying in a hammock tent that was hanging 9ft (2.7m) high between three trees.
Nathan Hanslip, Mr O'Carroll's business partner, said: "Ryan was an inspirational best friend, brother and business partner.
"He gave nothing less than 110% in any area of life, whether it was the business, surfing, snowboarding, reading or any of his many hobbies and interests he was extremely passionate about."
A Yo Telecom statement said: "It is with great shock and pain that we announce that a pivotal member of our family has sadly passed away.
"He was one of the rare people in this world where when he spoke, you truly listened."
A spokesperson for Devon and Cornwall Police said the death was not being treated as suspicious and a file was being prepared for the coroner.
South Western Ambulance Service said it attended with three ambulances, an air ambulance and a rapid response vehicle.
A spokesperson for Cornwall Council, which owns the park, said: "Our thoughts and condolences are with the family and friends of the young man who has sadly lost his life in this tragic incident which happened outside of the designated camping area at Tehidy Country Park."