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Grieving Parents Sue City After Son's Tragic Death in Park Accident
13 Nov
Summary
- Father's desperate final act to save son from falling tree branch
- Couple files wrongful death lawsuit against city for failing to maintain trees
- Family's heartbreak and efforts to honor son's memory and prevent future tragedies

In a heartbreaking incident that occurred over a year ago, a father in San Diego, California, recounted his desperate final act to save his young son from a falling tree branch. On the fateful day in 2024, Cathal Kerr was playing with his two sons, Charlie and Ronan, at a local park when a 34-foot-long branch from a eucalyptus tree came crashing down from over 30 feet above them.
Kerr managed to push his older son Charlie and his friend out of harm's way, but tragically, his 4-year-old son Ronan was struck by the thick branch and killed. Kerr sustained serious injuries, including a traumatic brain injury, in his attempt to shield his children. Ronan spent a week on life support before his heartbroken parents made the difficult decision to take him off.
Now, over a year later, Kerr and his wife Dara have filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the city of San Diego, claiming it failed to properly maintain and inspect the dangerous eucalyptus trees in the park. The couple is seeking financial damages and the removal or proper maintenance of all such trees deemed hazardous.
"This pain is just unbearable, and if we could just save another family from having to go through this, it'll be worth it," Kerr said. The family's mission is to honor their son's memory and prevent similar tragedies from occurring in the future.




