A nine-year-old boy tragically lost his life on Sunday evening when he was playing with his friends in the central square of the Kompotades village near Lamia, when a plane tree collapsed.

The tree crushed the 9-year-old boy and his 4-year-old brother. The paramedics unfortunately were unable to help the 9-year-old, who was seriously injured. The 4-year-old brother is receiving treatment at the Lamia hospital and is not at any risk.

Shocked witnesses reported that the children were playing on the tree, when a 12-meter piece of the tree trunk that appeared to have rotted away detached, crushing the children.

The local police arrested the municipal gardening employee charged with maintaining the trees for negligence.