A community in Massachusetts is coming together to remember a young boy who died in a freak accident. Zakaria Bel Qaid was playing on the playground at Winthrop Elementary School in Melrose when a tree fell onto the jungle gym. Details about his injuries haven’t been shared, but it was noted that he was taken to the hospital with injuries described as “serious.” Another child and an adult also were injured, but their condition wasn’t life-threatening. Since the accident, many in the community have expressed their sorrow at the loss, and the boy is being memorialized at the school.
The incident took place after school.
The Melrose Fire Department confirmed to WCVB that two children and one adult were injured when a tree fell from behind a fence onto the playground at Winthrop Elementary School on May 4, 2026. A portion of the fence was also destroyed by the falling tree.
It was initially unclear if the tree fell onto the victims, but authorities said at the time that one child had serious injuries.
“This afternoon Melrose Police and Fire Departments responded to a 911 call after school regarding a tree falling on a playground at the Winthrop Elementary School,” the mayor of Melrose announced in a statement shared by the outlet. “As a result, two children and one adult were transported by ambulance to area hospitals.”
“It’s terrifying. You hope everyone’s OK. It’s really scary to get all the text messages from a bunch of moms, that’s how I heard,” parent Robin Magnuson told WCVB. “We happened to see the ambulance and they were taking away the kid on stretchers.”
One child died as a result of the accident.
People are leaving flowers and signs at the Memorial for the student killed by a tree yesterday in #Melrose. @boston25 pic.twitter.com/hkEKcAowFZ
— James Cullity (@JCullityNews) May 5, 2026
On May 5, it was announced that one of the children involved died as a result of injuries received in the accident.
“It is with great sadness that we share that the student who was seriously injured yesterday afternoon during the incident on the Winthrop School playground has died,” Melrose Public School Superintendent Cari Berman and Mayor Jennifer Grigoraitis shared in a joint statement posted on Facebook. “It is our understanding that the other two individuals, one student and one adult, who were injured yesterday, have been discharged from area hospitals.”
The statement added that counseling services would be available for students and staff who needed someone to talk to.
“This is a very sad day at Winthrop School and for our entire Melrose Community. Our deepest condolences go out to the family, and we ask that you please respect their privacy at this time. We also want to thank the first responders, school personnel, parents and community members who responded on scene yesterday and continue to provide support.”
The child’s family identified him on social media.
He was identified as Zakaria Bel Qaid in an Instagram post from an account made to promote his skiing.
“It is with utmost sadness and grief that we announce the passing of our most beautiful boy, Zakaria. He was involved in a crazy and unbelievable accident on the playground at his school where a tree from a neighboring property broke and fell on him while he was playing on the play structure,” the statement began.
“He spent his last moments laughing and playing tag with his little sister and her friend,” the family shared in the post, adding that Zakaria had celebrated his ninth birthday only a week before.
“He was fun and incredibly loving, loyal, determined, confident, silly, stubborn and the very best mama’s boy,” the post continued. “He loved to ski so much – it was absolutely everything to him and I’m so glad he had the best winter ever. Thank you to everyone that loved him. This is an incomprehensible loss.”
A memorial fund has been created by the family, with donations going to Green Mountain Academy, a nonprofit snowboard and freeski training club in Stowe, Vermont.
