A 12-year-old girl who was tragically killed when a tree branch fell on her while she was playing on a rope swing has had her death officially ruled an accident by a coroner. Brooke Wiggins, just days away from her 13th birthday, was playing in Banstead, Surrey, on November 9, 2024, when the incident occurred.
Details of the Incident
The inquest at South London Coroner’s Court heard that Brooke fell from a rope swing attached to a large branch of a tree. The branch suddenly snapped off and crushed her under its weight. Assistant coroner Ivor Collett presided over the hearing.
Council's Role
Surrey County Council, responsible for maintaining the tree, faced criticism over its tree safety inspection procedures. However, the coroner concluded that the council could not have reasonably been expected to do more to prevent the tragedy. The incident was described as a 'terrible' accident.
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