A woman was killed after taking ‘full force’ of a huge branch that had fallen from a decaying tree during an evening walk with her husband, an inquest heard.
Jen Higgins, 49, did not have time to react when the tree collapsed across the road onto the opposing pavement on Barlow Moor Road on August 20 2025.
Her husband Gawen Higgins, who was also injured by the beech tree, told Manchester Coroner’s Court that his wife ‘took the full force’ of the branch.
He also added that his wife had ‘no time to take evasive action’ after they heard a ‘loud crack’ with a third of the tree’s canopy falling to the ground.
‘I was in a state of shock – Jen was on the pavement and not responding,’ he told the inquest.
The beech tree, which had grown on privately owned land near the junction of Stanton Avenue, had been experiencing fungal decay.
And as a result, the tree’s wood, which had not been pruned for at least 15 years, was ‘almost like tissue paper’, the inquest heard.
An off-duty nurse began CPR on his wife, with emergency services arriving mere minutes later. Despite their best efforts, Mrs Higgins died at the scene at 7.40pm.
‘Jen died right there on the pavement, on a warm, pleasant evening,’ Mr Higgins said, as he recalled ‘a lot of diseased, rotten wood’ on the ground, the BBC reported.
Jen Higgins, 49, died after being hit by a falling tree branch in Manchester last month
The fallen branch of a birch tree on Stanton Avenue in Didsbury which killed Ms Higgins
Mrs Higgins’ cause of death was found to be multiple traumatic chest injuries caused by blunt force trauma.
Her husband was left with bruising and scratches following the incident on the walk with his wife and another couple.
Noel Nugent, a senior arboricultural officer at Manchester council, said the decay of the ‘substantial branch’ would not have ‘been visible’ before its fall.
He added that the ‘particularly aggressive’ fungus would have begun when the beech tree was ‘cut back’ and could have happened over ‘years and years’.
The tree surgeon with 25 years of experience told the inquest that tree owners had ‘a duty of care’ to make sure their trees were safe, but not everyone could recognise the signs.
Karim Manssour-Dahbi, who had owned the land where the tree stood, said a general survey when he bought the property in 2020 had not highlighted any issues with the trees.
He said all seven trees on the grounds of his home appeared to be ‘healthy with strong green growth’, and expressed his condolences to Mrs Higgins’ family.
Around ‘four to five months’ after he and his family moved in, he had hired a tree surgeon to trim the leaves as a ‘shadow was not allowing the grass to grow’.
Since Mrs Higgins’ death, Mr Manssour-Dhabu was ordered to have the remainder of the tree cut, and now only its trunk stands.
There was no Tree Preservation Order, and the beech tree was not situated in a conservation area, the inquest heard.
Assistant coroner Jennifer Swift concluded the PR boss’s death was accidental, adding that tree owners were not required to look or inspect any decay.
‘To me, this is nothing short of a tragic, devastating accident that occurred that day,’ she said.
The part of the tree where the branch fell away can be seen next to the road
Ms Higgins was the founder and joint managing director of PR firm Carousel, which she ran with her husband, and had over 20 years of experience working on consumer PR and social media campaigns.
Following the inquest, her grieving husband paid tribute to his beloved wife, whom he wed in 2010, sharing her business success as well as her love for ‘yoga, travel and walking’.
Her heartbroken family previously paid tribute to the 49-year-old in a statement which read: ‘The family of Jen Higgins are heartbroken to confirm she lost her life in a sudden and tragic accident.
‘She was a beloved wife, daughter, sister, daughter-in-law, and aunt – a vibrant and supportive friend to many; and a dynamic and widely respected member of the Manchester business community.
‘You will no doubt empathise with the deep and profound shock we are feeling at this moment and ask for privacy while we grieve. A further statement will be issued when we feel able.’