Visitors flock to see the red deer in Richmond Park

A 12-year-old boy has died after being crushed by part of a tree on a family day out at a west London park.

Nathan Louis, from West Acton, London, suffered head and chest injuries when he was hit by the branch of a 400-year-old oak tree in Richmond Park.

He was flown to the Royal London Hospital but died later from his injuries.

The Royal Parks Agency, which runs Richmond Park, has begun an inquiry into Monday's incident.

Theo Moore, a spokesman for the Royal Parks constabulary, said all trees in the park are checked for weaknesses.

He was such a bubbly boy and he wanted to be a doctor like his uncle Nirmala Chandrasena, aunt

"This is an unimaginable tragedy which happened in the middle of a beautiful summer day and our thoughts are with the family at this time," he said.

"An investigation is under way into the causes and we hope it will yield results quickly."

Nathan's aunt, Nirmala Chandrasena, praised her nephew's "lovely, charming character".

"He was such a bubbly boy and he wanted to be a doctor like his uncle," she said.

"His mother, father and three brothers are a very close family.

"They are a very religious Roman Catholic family and they pray together all the time. That's the only thing that's keeping them together at the moment.

"They went to Richmond Park for a nice family day out - it is unimaginable what has happened."

It is thought to be the first time anyone has been killed by a tree in the park, which attracts millions of visitors each year.