A group of soccer players narrowly escaped injury in Pasadena on Tuesday afternoon when a massive tree limb crashed to the ground, crushing a bench where the players were sitting, officials said.

Horrified witnesses at Kissena Park in Flushing, Queens, described how Yingyi Li, 30, was pinned under an oak tree, bleeding profusely from the head.

A council has been told to remove all park benches from under trees because of an ''absurd'' health and safety regulation, an MP said today. By Telegraph Reporters 06 September 2012 • 1:19pm ...

Just days after a health and safety report condemned 'cotton wool culture', over-zealous officers have ordered a council to remove park benches - in case a branch should fall on someone sitting there.