Golfer Dies After Tree Branch Falls On Head While Playing

KEY POINTS

The incident happened at the gold course on Clifford Close at Mollymook on Thursday afternoon
According to the paramedics, the injuries were critical
In separate incidents last year, two other golfers had died the same way

A man was killed after he was hit by a falling tree branch while playing golf at NSW South Coast, 300 miles from Sydney on Thursday. The incident happened at the gold course on Clifford Close at Mollymook around 3 p.m. ( ET 11 p.m. Wednesday).

Businessman Craig Bury was playing with his friends when he suffered a traumatic cardiac arrest after the branch fell on his head, said a report by 9News.

Though his friends performed CPR before the paramedics arrived, he died on the spot. According to the paramedics, the injuries were critical. The authorities have launched an investigation into the incident.

"It appears he was out for a day of golf with his mates when the freak incident occurred. Unfortunately, the man suffered a significant head injury and went into traumatic cardiac arrest and died at the scene,” said NSW Ambulance Inspector Faye Stockman.

The golf course was closed down on Friday following the incident. Bury is said to have played golf every Thursday.

According to a witness at Mollymook Golf Club, John Hespe, Bury's partners did try to revive their mate. "Very sad day at Hilltop. Playing two holes ahead, we heard the branch crash before worst fears were realized. His playing partners were very brave trying to revive their mate. No words,” Hespe posted on social media.

Meanwhile, Mollymook Golf Club issued a statement offering condolences to Bury’s family. “It is with heartfelt sympathy we wish to inform that tragically on (Thursday) afternoon one of our members was fatally injured by a falling tree branch while playing on the club’s Hilltop Golf Course,” the messages read.

Tributes began pouring in after the news of his shocking death came out. Bury was the founder of Aussie Weighbridge Systems, an industrial weighing business.

In October, a golf pro at a Massachusetts country club had died when a tree fell on his golf cart during violent thunderstorms. Thomas Sullivan, the pro at Wyantenuck Country Club, was found dead on the ground next to the cart.

Another golfer also had died the same way when a tree crashed into Philmont Country Club’s pro shop and cart barn following a thunderstorm. Justin Riegel was bringing in carts from the rain at the Philadelphia course when the accident happened.