Seven students injured after tree falls in playground of Sydney high school

Four girls have been taken to hospital with head and back injuries after a falling tree injured seven students at Heathcote High School, south of Sydney.

Authorities were called to the school just after 1.30pm and carried out a delicate operation to help free the Year 12 girls from under the branches.

Of the seven students injured, two suffered head injuries and back pain and two others had back pain.

Paramedics took the injured students to St George Hospital.

Nearly three years ago, a similar incident occurred when an eight-year-old girl Bridget Wright was killed on the playground of Pitt Town Public School, in Sydney's north-west, when a branch crashed on top of her and four others.

The 2014 incident sparked a safety audit on all trees at New South Wales schools.