Two injured as ‘massive’ tree branch falls near Shrine of Remembrance

Two people have been rushed to hospital after a large tree branch fell on them near Melbourne’s Shrine of Remembrance.

Police said two men and a woman from Sydney were leaving the Shrine and walking down steps towards St Kilda Road when they were struck just before 1.30pm on Tuesday.

“One of the men, aged 21, and a woman, aged 57, were taken to hospital with suspected serious but non-life-threatening injuries,” police said in a statement.

“The second man, aged 56, was lucky to escape with a few scratches.”

Fire Rescue Victoria said firefighters were called to Birdwood Avenue at 1.27pm.

“Firefighters arrived on scene within five minutes to find there was no one trapped but multiple injured patients,” the agency said.

Ambulance Victoria said paramedics assessed three people at the scene.

“A woman in her 50s was treated for upper body injuries and was transported to The Alfred hospital in a serious condition,” Ambulance Victoria said in a statement.

“A man in his 20s was treated for lower-body injuries and was transported to The Alfred hospital in a stable condition. No emergency treatment or transport was required for the third patient.”