Coroner Rules 12-Year-Old's Rope Swing Death a Shocking Accident

The death of a 12-year-old girl struck by a falling tree branch while on a rope swing was an accident, a coroner ruled.

Brooke Wiggins died in November 2024 after a large branch snapped off a tree in Banstead, Surrey, and crushed her.

The inquest heard that Surrey County Council had failed to inspect the tree months earlier and had not carried out work to make safety checks easier.

Assistant Coroner Ivor Collett dismissed criticism of the council. He called Brooke's death a "shocking accident."

Collett said the council, responsible for maintaining the tree, could not reasonably have done more to prevent the incident "bearing in mind their duties and... and the public resources they have to manage."

He also noted "the huge number of trees" under the council's care.

The inquest heard the tree had been reviewed by the local authority in May 2022. Officials recommended removing ivy to "aid future inspection of the tree." After Brooke's death, the tree was found to have a "crack" not visible from the ground.

A re-inspection was scheduled for May 2024 but did not occur because other inspections took priority.

Terence Herbert, Surrey County Council's chief executive, extended his "sincere condolences" to Brooke's family and friends. "We.... note the coroner's conclusion that this was a tragic accident," he said.