5 Hurt When Wind Topples Tree at Kansas Swim Meet

Five people are recovering from injuries suffered when a large tree toppled onto a group of people attending a swim meet in the south-central Kansas town of Winfield.

The Winfield Fire Department says four of the injured were taken to hospitals in Winfield and Wichita. The Wichita Eagle reported that one of the injured people didn’t require hospital treatment.

Fire Capt. Stuart Cassaboom says it appeared that the trunk of the tree snapped about 6 feet above the ground when a strong wind gust hit it Friday.

Broadcaster KAKE-TV reported that the meet was disbanded after the tree toppled, but swimmers returned the following day to finish the competition. The station says the injuries included broken bones.