Mother and baby crushed to death by tree during Easter egg hunt

A mother and her baby were among three people crushed to death by a tree that fell on them during an Easter egg hunt in Germany.

The 21-year-old had taken her infant along for the activity organised by a nearby centre for new mothers, and they were tragically killed alongside a 16-year-old girl.

Strong winds toppled the 100-foot tree in woods near the northern town of Satrupholm at around 11am, local police said.

Four people were initially pinned beneath it, and despite the best efforts of first responders, the young woman and teenager died at the scene.

The woman's 10-month-old daughter died later in hospital, and grief counsellors were sent to the scene.

An 18-year-old woman also suffered serious injuries to her spine and was rushed to hospital by helicopter.

Around 50 people including new mothers, pregnant women and children were participating in the egg hunt.

It was hosted by a state-funded centre for women who need support before or after having children. 

Pictures from the scene published by German news site Bild showed several Easter eggs scattered on the woodland ground and two of the victims covered in white sheets.

The area had been under a high winds warning from the German weather service.

Government officials from the local Schleswig-Holstein region said they were 'deeply shaken' by the accident.

'Our thoughts are with the family members of the dead, with the injured, and with everyone who had to experience this terrible occurrence,' regional Governor Daniel Günther, Interior Minister Magdalena Finke, and Youth and Families Minister Aminata Touré said in a joint statement.