A four-year-old girl has been crushed to death by a falling tombstone while playing in a church graveyard.

Peyton Townsend, from Deep Gap, North Carolina, suffered severe head injuries just minutes before a vacation Bible school study at Mount Paran Church on Friday.

Several children had been running around in the backyard of the church, which doubles as a cemetery, at about 6.20pm, according to pastor Rick Cornejo.


Freak accident: Four-year-old Peyton Townsend, pictured left, was killed by a falling tombstone


Mr Cornejo said the child was standing on one of about two dozen tombstones when a five-foot stone cross, estimated to weight more than 1,200 pounds, fell on top of her, crushing her.

'It’s a freak accident,' Josh Ruppard, who lives next door to the church, told WSOCTV.


'Something like this could happen to anyone’s kid.'







Mr Cornejo said his brother-in-law and 16-year-old grandson were able to move the child from under the stone slab.

She was then airlifted to Johnson City Medical Center where she was pronounced dead.

Peyton's parents Randall and Sarah Townsend were with her through the ordeal.


Ms Townsend's Facebook page has been flooded with supportive comments from family and friends, most of which were offers of prayers.


Mourning: Sarah Townsend, pictured with Peyton, thanks well wishers on her Facebook page




Family: The Townsend family, pictured, will bury their daughter Peyton on Monday


She wrote on Saturday: 'Thank you for all your prayers, we can feel you lifting us up.'

First Sgt. Gary McClelland of the N.C. Highway Patrol told the Winston-Salem Journal that the tombstone also struck Peyton's older sister Lilly Grace, 6, but she only suffered slight injuries to her leg.

'There are a lot of people hurting over this,' Mr McClelland said.


The Townsend family is 'strong in their faith. They're strong people. They'll get through it,' he said.

Around 20 other children were present at the time of the accident. Counseling sessions were scheduled for the kids and rescuers who witnessed the tragedy.

Peyton was born on October 31, 2007, according to her obituary. She loved bright colors and Barbie dolls and playing dress-up with her sister.


Mr McClelland remembered Peyton as a 'bubbly, giggly' little girl. 'This really hits hard,' he said.



Shock: Members of Mt Paran Baptist Church, pictured, are in shock after the child's tragic death




Heavy: The stone slab that crushed the child was estimated to weigh 1,200 pounds





The grave that fell on Peyton belongs to the cousin of church member Seth Mille.


'There’s no more smiling or thinking of good things after this,' Mr Miller told WSOCTV. 'You’re just thinking, "Oh my God, someone died here.''

Mr Miller rushed to the church when he heard emergency crews arrive and saw Peyton lying on the grass.

'You get that jolt, and then, suddenly, you get really scared. And that’s what this was. My face turned red, and I was just like, "Wow." It just kind of hits you,' he said.

Mr Cornejo said a special balloon release would take place after Sunday morning’s service.

Funeral services will be conducted at the First Baptist Church in Blowing Rock at around 6pm on Monday. Graveside services and the burial will be private.



Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2157078/Peyton-Townsend-crushed-death-tombstone-playing-graveyard.html#ixzz1xO3vEKo8