Brooke Wiggins, a 12-year-old girl from Banstead, Surrey, tragically died after a rope swing she was playing on collapsed, trapping her underneath a heavy tree branch. The incident, which unfolded over a harrowing 90 minutes, has left her family devastated and raised serious questions about tree safety inspections.
The Tragic Incident
Brooke was enjoying an afternoon with friends on a rope swing in Grove Place when the branch she was swinging from suddenly broke off and pinned her to the ground. Her friends immediately sought help, and nearby brothers Edward and Patrick Delane attempted to lift the branch but could not move it without specialist equipment. Emergency services arrived quickly, but it took between 90 minutes and two hours to free Brooke using hydraulic tools. She died at the scene from severe crush injuries, just days before her 13th birthday.
Missed Safety Inspection
An inquest into Brooke's death heard that the beech tree, maintained by Surrey County Council, was last inspected in May 2022. That inspection recommended removing ivy from the tree to aid future inspections, but the work was never completed. The tree was due for re-inspection in May 2024, but this did not take place. Brooke's father, Lee Wiggins, expressed his anguish, stating, "If only people had done their job properly… Brooke would still be here."
Gordon Carson, of the Health and Safety Executive, told the inquest that the council's policy is to remove rope swings within seven days, but there was no evidence of a system to flag overdue inspections. The council argued that even if the inspection had occurred, it may not have prevented the tragedy, as a crack in the tree was not visible from ground level.
Council's Response
Katherine McDonald, the council's group manager for countryside, acknowledged that the council must "juggle" competing priorities, managing millions of trees with limited resources. She stated that the tree was located metres from a bridleway, and the council was unaware of public access to the area. No warning signs have been erected at the site since the accident, as the council believes signage might draw attention to undesirable activities.
Assistant coroner Ivor Collett concluded that the council had reasonable systems in place and could not have reasonably foreseen the accident. He noted that "vigorous children and teenagers would take much notice of warning signs" and ruled Brooke's death an accident.
Family's Tribute
Brooke's mother, Claire Etherington, described her as a "beautiful, fun, caring and loving girl" who loved dancing, art, singing, and photography. Her father, Lee, called her an "amazing young woman" who was "bright" and "very funny." The family hopes that the inquest brings some closure and understanding, though their grief remains profound.
