A 12-year-old girl died after being struck by a falling tree branch while playing on a rope swing, just days before her 13th birthday, an inquest has heard.
The victim, Brooke Wiggins, suffered fatal injuries when the branch hit her during the incident in November 2024.
South London Coroner’s Court was told the tree involved was maintained by Surrey County Council and had been inspected in May 2022. However, the scheduled re-inspection in May 2024 did not take place.
Legal representatives for Brooke’s family argued that had the inspection been carried out, any rope swing attached to the tree should have been removed under existing safety policy. The council, however, said expert evidence suggested that an inspection may not have changed the outcome.
Brooke’s father, Lee Wiggins, described his daughter as “bright” and “very funny”, saying the family was devastated by her loss and questioning whether proper checks could have prevented the tragedy.
Her mother, Claire Etherington, paid tribute to her daughter, describing her as a “beautiful, fun, caring and loving girl” who had a special ability to light up every room she entered.
She added that Brooke loved dancing, art, singing and photography, and said the family will always wonder what she might have achieved in the future.
The inquest into her death is ongoing.
