Rope swing death a 'shocking accident', coroner says
Summary
A 12-year-old girl named Brooke Wiggins died after a large tree branch fell on her while she was playing on a rope swing in Banstead, Surrey. A coroner ruled her death was a tragic accident and said the local council could not have reasonably done more to prevent it.Key Facts
- Brooke Wiggins died in November 2024 when a big tree branch broke and fell on her.
- The tree was in Banstead, Surrey, and was the responsibility of Surrey County Council (SCC).
- The council had inspected the tree in May 2022 and recommended removing ivy to make future checks easier.
- A small crack in the branch was found only after Brooke's death and was not visible during earlier inspections.
- A follow-up inspection planned for May 2024 did not happen because other inspections took priority.
- The coroner said the council could not have been expected to do more given their resources and many trees to look after.
- SCC’s chief executive expressed sympathy for Brooke’s family and noted the death was a tragic accident.
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