A tragic incident resulted in the death of a 12-year-old girl, Brooke Wiggins, who was struck by a falling branch while playing on a rope swing just days before her 13th birthday in Banstead, Surrey. The South London Coroner’s Court learned that she fell from the swing attached to a tree branch that broke off and collapsed on her.

The assistant coroner, Ivor Collett, determined that the accident was unforeseeable, and despite criticisms of Surrey County Council’s tree inspection procedures, it was concluded that adequate measures were in place. A previous inspection in May 2022 had recommended removing ivy to aid future assessments, but a hidden crack in the tree was only discovered post-incident.

Although a re-inspection was planned for May 2024 but postponed due to other priorities, the coroner found no guarantee that it would have detected the danger. Criticisms of the council’s inspection regime were countered by acknowledging the challenges of managing a vast number of trees with limited resources.

Suggestions for warning notices against rope swings between 2022 and 2024 were dismissed, as it was uncertain whether they would have been effective. The potential for a Prevention of Future Deaths report was deemed unnecessary, with existing systems considered sufficient. Mr. Collett expressed condolences to Brooke’s family for their loss, recognizing her as a bright presence in their lives.