Dad of woman, 12, killed in rope swing horror says tragedy might’ve been averted
Lee Wiggins, the father of Brooke Wiggins, expressed disappointment after a coroner ruled the 12-year-old’s death in Banstead was an accident when a falling tree branch crushed her
Brooke died days before her 13th birthday
The father of a 12-year-old girl who died after being struck by a falling branch while playing on a rope swing has voiced his dismay at a coroner’s verdict that ruled his daughter’s death accidental.
Brooke Wiggins passed away just days before her 13th birthday on November 9 2024 in Banstead, Surrey, after tumbling from a rope swing fixed to a large tree branch which suddenly broke away and crushed her underneath, South London Coroner’s Court was told.
Assistant coroner Ivor Collett stated that Surrey County Council, which held responsibility for the tree’s maintenance, had faced criticism regarding its tree safety inspection procedures, yet determined it could not reasonably have been expected to take further action to prevent the tragedy.
Mr Collett said: “I see what happened on the awful day of Brooke’s death as an accident which was not readily foreseeable by either of the local authorities involved.
“I find that they, and Surrey County Council in particular, had reasonable systems in place.
“Bearing in mind their duties and the risks and the public resources they have to manage, they could not reasonably be expected to have done more in a way which would have prevented this terrible accident.”
However, in a statement issued through his solicitors, Lee Wiggins, Brooke’s father, expressed his disappointment with the coroner’s findings and maintained that her death was “avoidable”.
Mr Wiggins said: “Brooke was 12 years old and would never for a second thought she was risking her life.
“I fully believe that Brooke’s death could have been avoided had people at the council done their jobs properly, and taken more care to fulfil their duty to ensure public safety.
“I just hope and pray that Brooke’s death has raised awareness of the dangers so that no other families have to go through the tragic, heart-breaking, avoidable loss we now have to live with.”
The inquest previously heard that the tree had been assessed in May 2022, following which it was recommended that ivy covering it be removed to “aid future inspection” of the tree. After Brooke’s death, it emerged that the tree had a “crack” not visible from ground level.
A follow-up inspection was planned for May 2024, but this did not occur due to other inspections taking precedence, according to evidence presented at the inquest.
On Wednesday, the coroner informed the inquest that there was “no sound evidence that a reinspection by May 2024 would have revealed either a dangerous crack or a rope swing”.
Mr Collett stated: “A criticism made in this case of Surrey County Council has been that its inspection regime was deficient.
“However, I do not make that finding.
“I accept the need to prioritise tree inspection works.
“This is not the same statutory territory as highway inspection regimes, it is far more nuanced and must be far more reactive and flexible, especially given the resources available and the huge number of trees involved in the Surrey CC estate.”
The assistant coroner informed the inquest that a prevention of future deaths report was “not warranted” as “there is a sufficient system already in place”.
Mr Wiggins expressed his disappointment at the coroner’s decision, advocating for a campaign to raise awareness about the risks associated with rope swings.
He stated: “There needs to be a proper public awareness campaign about the dangers of rope swings.
“It’s about giving people the information they need to make safe choices.
“I fear the opportunity may be missed to highlight this danger to the wider public, which a prevention of future deaths report could have helped with.
“Surrey County Council has pledged to do more now to make people aware, but what about other authorities?”
Mr Wiggins continued: “I am absolutely devastated that my baby girl has been taken from me.
“She packed so much into her short life.”
Surrey County Council has been approached for comment.
