A tragic incident occurred in Banstead, Surrey, where a 12-year-old girl named Brooke Wiggins lost her life after being struck by a falling branch while playing on a rope swing just days before her 13th birthday on November 9, 2024. The South London Coroner’s Court revealed that she fell from the swing attached to a tree branch that unexpectedly broke off, causing it to crush her.
During the investigation, Assistant Coroner Ivor Collett noted that Surrey County Council, responsible for tree maintenance, had faced criticism regarding their tree safety inspection procedures. However, he concluded that they had reasonable systems in place and could not have been expected to prevent such a tragic accident given the circumstances and resources available.
The tree in question had been reviewed by the council in May 2022, with a recommendation to remove ivy covering it for better inspection. Unfortunately, a subsequent inspection scheduled for May 2024 was not carried out due to other priorities. The coroner stated that even if the re-inspection had taken place, it might not have revealed the danger posed by the cracked tree branch or the presence of the rope swing.
Mr. Collett defended the council’s inspection regime, emphasizing the need to prioritize tree inspections based on available resources and the vast number of trees requiring attention. While suggestions were made to put up warning signs against rope swings between 2022 and 2024, he dismissed this approach as there was no guarantee that it would have prevented the accident, especially considering the nature of children’s behavior around warning signs.
The coroner also mentioned that a Prevention of Future Deaths report was deemed unnecessary as the existing system was deemed sufficient. He concluded the inquest by acknowledging Brooke’s family for being her voice and paying tribute to her bright presence in their lives, cut short too soon by the tragic accident.
