Coroner Rules 12-Year-Old's Tree Death Unforeseeable Accident

A 12-year-old girl died after a tree branch collapsed on her while she played on a rope swing in Banstead, Surrey, and a coroner has ruled the incident an unforeseeable accident, clearing local authorities of blame.

Brooke Wiggins was days away from her 13th birthday when the branch gave way on November 9, 2024, causing her to fall and pinning her beneath it, according to evidence presented at South London Coroners Court. Assistant coroner Ivor Collett concluded the death resulted from an accident that neither Surrey County Council, responsible for the tree's maintenance, nor Reigate and Banstead Borough Council could reasonably have foreseen.

The inquest heard the tree underwent an inspection in May 2022, during which officials recommended removing ivy to facilitate future checks. Post-incident examination revealed a crack in the branch, invisible from ground level. A follow-up inspection scheduled for May 2024 did not occur, as resources were allocated to higher-priority trees amid the council's management of thousands across its estate.

Collett rejected criticisms of Surrey County Council's inspection regime, stating it was reasonable given available resources and the nuanced...