Looking for Easter eggs is a popular tradition.Image: Moment RF
April 5, 2026, 7:32 p.mApril 5, 2026, 7:32 p.m
Three people were killed by a falling tree in a forest southeast of Flensburg on Easter Sunday, including a mother and her baby. They were part of a group looking for Easter eggs.
At around 11 a.m., a 30-meter-high tree in the municipality of Mittelangeln fell on the group due to strong gusts of wind, the police reported. Four people were trapped under the tree.
Ten-month-old baby dies in hospital
Despite rescue measures being taken immediately, a 16-year-old and a 21-year-old woman died at the scene of the accident. The 21-year-old’s ten-month-old daughter was taken by rescue helicopter to a hospital in Kiel with life-threatening injuries, where she later succumbed to her injuries.
An 18-year-old suffered serious injuries. She was flown to a hospital in Heide, where she underwent surgery, according to police. “According to my findings, the person is out of danger, but is still being treated,” said the spokesman. Other people suffered minor injuries. A police spokesman was unable to provide any information on Sunday about the exact number of those affected.
Around 50 residents of a residential group on the move
According to the police’s current findings, around 50 residents and carers of a nearby residential facility were in the forest looking for Easter eggs. Meanwhile, a tree fell on the group, probably due to the strong wind conditions.
“We cannot yet provide any reliable information about the cause,” said the police spokesman. There were strong gusts at the time of the accident. “That’s probably why this tree fell over.”
Search for the cause
It is still unclear whether the fallen tree had previous damage or disease. The state forestry department had already been informed about the incident, said a police spokesman.
On Sunday evening, various chocolate Easter eggs lay under and on the branches of the fallen tree, some of them crushed, as a dpa photo reporter observed. There was a small plastic wheel stuck under the trunk, possibly from a stroller. The tree was marked with paint.
The residents and caregivers were looked after on site by emergency pastors. The investigation into the exact cause of the accident is ongoing. A death investigation has been started, the spokesman said.
Reaction of the institution owner
The private operator of the Sternipark facility in question spoke in a statement of a tragic accident during an excursion that deeply shocked the entire facility. “A falling tree put a terrible end to the happy Easter egg hunt.” The facility thanked all the fire brigade and police forces, the emergency chaplains and employees who did everything humanly possible on site to help, save and provide support in the pain.
“The residents, children, young people, relatives and employees now need time and all our support to come to terms with the terrible accident.”
As the “Bild” newspaper reported, a total of more than 80 emergency services were on site. A police spokesman reported a large contingent of rescue workers, and a rescue helicopter was also used.
According to the German Weather Service (DWD), it is stormy in the north. In the morning, the DWD had predicted wind gusts of between 55 and 65 kilometers per hour during the day. In isolated cases there could also be gusts of 80 kilometers per hour in exposed locations. That corresponds to wind force nine.
Government shaken
Members of the state government expressed their condolences to the relatives and injured. “The terrible accident at Satrupholm on Easter Sunday shocks us deeply,” said Prime Minister Daniel Günther, Interior Minister Magdalena Finke (both CDU) and Youth and Family Minister Aminata Touré (Greens). What had been a joyful holiday together had turned into a terrible tragedy within just a few moments.
“Our thoughts are with the relatives of those killed, with those injured and with everyone who had to witness this terrible event,” explained Günther, Finke and Touré. Especially at Easter it becomes painfully clear how close suffering and hope are. They thanked the emergency services who helped on site under extremely stressful circumstances and did everything humanly possible. (sda/dpa)