Tragic Death of 12-Year-Old Girl Under Fallen Tree Branch

A tragic incident occurred in Banstead, England, where a 12-year-old girl, Brooke Wiggins, lost her life after being crushed by a fallen tree branch while playing with friends. The incident took place when the branch snapped while Brooke was using a rope swing, leaving her trapped for nearly two hours before emergency services could free her.

During a pre-inquest hearing at South London Coroners’ Court on November 9, 2022, Assistant Coroner Ivor Collett emphasized the need to clarify the circumstances surrounding the tragedy. He noted that the tree in question was one that “any normal child might look at and think it was a tree for playing on.” This raises significant concerns regarding the maintenance and safety of public spaces.

The tree was reportedly owned and should have been maintained by Surrey County Council. However, the land where Brooke fell was under the jurisdiction of the London Borough of Sutton. This division of responsibility complicates accountability in this tragic case.

Emergency services were called to Grove Place, near the junction with Carshalton Road, after Brooke became trapped. It took approximately 90 minutes to two hours to extricate her using specialist equipment. Unfortunately, despite the efforts of her friends and bystanders, including brothers Edward and Patrick Delaney, Brooke suffered severe crush injuries and succumbed to her injuries.

Coroner Collett stated, “There is no suggestion that Brooke and her friends were doing anything wrong. It was public land.” He noted that the children accessed the area via a bridleway, indicating that they were not trespassing. This raises questions about the safety protocols in place for public recreational areas.

Brooke’s mother, Claire Etherington, along with other family members, attended the court hearing. Collett acknowledged the emotional toll of the incident, remarking on the distressing nature of the situation for any family. He expressed a commitment to thoroughly investigate the circumstances surrounding Brooke’s death, stating, “We owe it to Brooke to investigate properly and allow a conclusion to be fully informed.”

Following the incident, preliminary inspections of the tree indicated that it might need to be “monolithed,” a process that involves cutting off all branches. A representative from Surrey County Council mentioned that this work had not yet been carried out pending further investigations. However, Collett indicated that maintenance work could proceed now.

The incident is part of a troubling pattern, as there have been several fatalities linked to council-owned trees in recent years. In 2015, Lukasz Costazza, 30, died after being struck by a decaying tree in Low Hall Nature Reserve, and in August 2022, Madia Kauser, 32, suffered a fatal injury while trying to protect her daughter from a falling tree in Witton Country Park. Additionally, a homeless man died when a branch collapsed onto his tent in Revoe Park, Blackpool, just weeks ago.

As investigations continue, the Health and Safety Executive is also involved in looking into the circumstances surrounding Brooke’s death. A full inquest is scheduled to take place next year, aimed at providing clarity and accountability regarding the tragic event that has deeply affected the community.