Boy, 9, celebrated birthday days before being killed in freak accident on school playground

A family is feeling an “incomprehensible loss” after a nine-year-old boy was killed by a falling tree just days after his birthday. Little Zakaria Bel Qaid died in a freak accident when a tree came tumbling down at his elementary school in Winthrop, near Boston, in the US state of Massachusetts. The boy was one of three people injured Zakaria was an accomplished skier and his family announced his death on an Instagram account dedicated to showing off his tricks and skills. His family said Zakaria spent his “last moments laughing and playing tag with his little sister and her friend”. Nancy Clover, from Melrose, said the incident occurred after school. She told CBS News: "Kids were playing on the playground as they usually do. The wind picked up and a tree fell." The trunk of the tree bent a nearby fence. The “incredibly loving, loyal, determined, confident, silly, stubborn and the very best mama's boy” had been excited about turning nine recently and was already looking forward to his tenth birthday. Skiing was "everything" to Zakaria, his devastated mum said. The Melrose School Committee said in a statement that the adult and another child injured in the accident were taken to area hospitals and have since been discharged. “Counselling staff and additional administrators are on site at the Winthrop School to support students and staff as they navigate this challenging time,” the statement said. “Our deepest condolences go out to the family, and we ask that you please respect their privacy at this time.” Zakaria’s family has asked donations to be sent to Green Mountain Academy, a snowboard and ski training club in Vermont. Resorts by WVCB said Zakaria had recently competed in Colorado at the national ski championship, where he won in the half pipe and ski cross for his age group. Locals lamented the loss, with a memorial set up outside the school playground attended by classmates, friends and neighbours. Eighth-grade student George Alexis told Boston25 the incident was “horrible” and asked “Why does this have to happen to him?”. Resident Bill Colella said: “I mean, you think of how it could happen to any of us. You picture the family, just going to work, going to school, just a normal day, and god forbid something like this terrible happens.” Zakaria’s funeral was on May 8. His family said his soul is “in Paradise” and “his body is in a quiet and beautiful resting place surrounded with lots of birdsong”. They said: “We would like to thank everyone for the outpouring of support for our family during this unimaginable time. It is truly impossible to believe that our beautiful boy is actually gone. The sheer volume of messages and comments is so overwhelming - we wish Zakaria would have known beforehand how many people actually loved and cared for him. It is so comforting to know that we are going to be cared for as we embark on this new chapter of our lives without our boy along with us.” The family added that the boy will “continue to live on in spirit” and that his “infectious smile, that was his ticket out of trouble, will forever be etched in our minds and his determination and passion for everything he did will forever live in our hearts”.