A tragic incident led to the death of a 12-year-old girl named Brooke Wiggins while she was playing on a rope swing. The accident occurred when a branch snapped, causing the girl to be trapped under a tree for up to two hours. An inquest revealed that Brooke was with friends at the time of the incident.
During a pre-inquest review, it was disclosed that the tree, responsible for the tragedy, was under the ownership of Surrey County Council, although the incident happened on land owned by the London Borough of Sutton. Emergency services were called to the scene at Grove Place in Banstead, Surrey, where it took specialized equipment and up to two hours to free Brooke from beneath the fallen tree.
An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and Surrey County Council’s tree experts was conducted following the tragic event. The inquest will focus on the role of Surrey County Council in maintaining the tree, which was situated on their land adjacent to where the incident occurred.
Despite efforts to save her, Brooke sustained severe injuries and tragically passed away. The tree in question was recommended for ‘monolithing’, which involves cutting off all branches, although this action has been postponed pending further investigations. However, it was noted that necessary work on the tree could proceed.
Regrettably, several fatalities involving council-owned trees have been reported in recent years, highlighting the importance of proper tree maintenance and inspection protocols. Investigations into Brooke’s death are ongoing, with a full inquest scheduled for the following year.