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Girl's Tragic Death: Council Blamed for Unchecked Tree
22 Apr
Summary
- A 12-year-old girl died from a falling branch while on a rope swing.
- The tree was maintained by Surrey County Council and had not been inspected.
- An inquest heard checks may have prevented the fatal incident.
A tragic incident claimed the life of 12-year-old Brooke Wiggins just days before her 13th birthday. She was fatally injured by a falling branch while playing on a rope swing at Grove Place in Banstead, Surrey. The tree, managed by Surrey County Council, had reportedly not undergone an inspection since May 2022. A follow-up inspection scheduled for May 2024 did not occur.
During the inquest, legal representation for Brooke's father argued that necessary council checks would have mandated the removal of the swing. In contrast, Surrey County Council's representatives indicated that expert opinions suggested inspections might not have altered the tragic outcome. Brooke was remembered by her mother as a beautiful, fun, and caring girl with immense potential, whose loss has left her family devastated and questioning whether their daughter might still be alive had procedures been followed correctly.
