Pregnant mum undergoes surgery for serious injuries caused by falling tree branch in NSW

A pregnant mother is undergoing surgery after being severely injured in a freak accident.

Sally Burls was celebrating Easter Monday in NSW with her husband Dylan Burls, their two-year-old son Harry, and their family border collie Archie when a tree branch fell down onto the family.

Estimated to weight 800kg, the branch fell directly onto Sally.

“In an incredible split-second instinct, Archie pushed Harry out of the way — saving his life,” friend Jade Lieschke said in an online fundraising campaign.

“Harry walked away with minor injuries but Sally was seriously injured and had to be airlifted to Melbourne.

“Archie was badly hurt too, with a broken hip and leg that need surgery.”

The family will now have to deal with “months of recovery, medical bills, and expensive vet care for their furry hero,” Lieschke said.

“It’s a lot for one family to carry.”

7NEWS understands Sally is undergoing surgery on Thursday.

Harry is “slowly getting his bounce back” too, Lieschke said.

“Archie is still at the vets, and we’re following their guidance closely,” she said.

“Sally has been an absolute trouper — the medical staff have been amazing, and we’re so grateful for everything they’re doing.

“We’re taking each day as it comes and feeling truly overwhelmed by the kindness, generosity, and love from everyone.”

The incident is far from the first related to falling branches this year, with almost two incidents every month so far.

In March, a man was left fighting for life after he was struck in the chest by a falling tree branch in Springbrook on the Gold Coast in Queensland.

Also in March, a man and woman were injured by a falling tree outside their home in Adelaide.

Marilyn Fuss had just returned home from work and was greeting her husband John Fuss when the tree fell.

She suffered head injuries while he was hit in the chest and trapped under the tree.

Marilyn had reported the tree to council after it dropped another limb on New Year’s Eve, and said council has yet to inspect it.

City of Onkaparinga mayor Moira Were said the tree was on council’s list “to get on top of” and was due to be inspected.

The day before the Fuss couple were hit, two people were injured by a falling tree branch at the WOMADelaide music festival.

A 55-year-old man was struck and was lucky not to suffer from serious injuries, escaping only with bruising.

Another person was treated at the scene by emergency services for cuts.

In February, an 11-year-old girl was left with life-threatening injuries after being struck by a falling branch while with a school group at Government House in Canberra.

Anais Betts suffered a severe head injury, and was taken to hospital and placed in an induced coma.

Also in February, a driver narrowly avoided injury in Perth when a large tree fell onto their car.

Days earlier, a branch fell near audience members at the University of Western Australia’s Somerville Auditorium during an outdoor movie screening.

Arborists were called in and screenings that week were cancelled.

In January, two women were crushed by a falling tree on Sydney’s upper north shore.

The tree fell during a storm and hit three people. The two women were trapped by the tree, while a man suffered minor injuries.

A 54-year-old woman suffered shoulder, chest and leg injuries, while a 70-year-old woman sustained a back injury.