An inquest has revealed that a tree which fell and killed 12-year-old Brooke Wiggins should have had recommended work carried out, but no concrete plan was made by Surrey County Council.

Tragic Death of Brooke Wiggins

The inquest centers around the tragic death of Brooke Wiggins, who died just days before her 13th birthday. She fell from a rope swing attached to a beech tree in Banstead, Surrey.

Unaddressed Tree Defect

The tree, maintained by Surrey County Council, had a hidden crack concealed by ivy. A review in May 2022 recommended the ivy’s removal to facilitate future inspections. Despite being assigned a priority rating of five – meaning it ‘should’ have been completed within 12 months – this work was never carried out.

Council's Prioritization and Policies

Katherine McDonald, the council’s group manager for countryside, stated that advice from a tree surgeon did not translate into a ‘concrete plan’. The council prioritizes work based on risk and value for money. A re-inspection was scheduled for May 2024 but never took place.

The council’s policy dictates the removal of rope swings within seven days. While they typically remove around 15 swings annually, they often opt for advisory notices in areas with multiple swings. Miss McDonald admitted signage would ‘certainly’ have been considered had she been aware of the swings on the tree Brooke was using.

Family Exclusion and Rescue Efforts

Following the tragedy, a ‘serious incident group’ was formed, but deliberately excluded Brooke’s family, which was deemed ‘insensitive’. The rescue attempt took between 90 minutes and two hours, but Brooke succumbed to her severe injuries shortly after being freed.

Concerns Over Public Safety

The failure to address the known issue with the tree, coupled with the lack of public awareness campaigns regarding rope swing dangers, raises serious questions about the council’s commitment to public safety and responsible tree management. The council manages ‘millions’ of trees, leading to delays in addressing lower-priority issues.