A 12-year-old girl tragically died after being struck by a falling branch from a tree where a rope swing, which "should have been removed" months earlier, was located, an inquest has heard.
Brooke Wiggins passed away on 9 November 2024 in Banstead, Surrey, just days before her 13th birthday, due to a fatal injury sustained from the impact, South London Coroner’s Court was told on Wednesday.
The inquest revealed that the tree, maintained by Surrey County Council, had been inspected in May 2022 and was scheduled for a re-inspection in May 2024, a check that ultimately did not occur. Christian Weaver, representing Brooke’s father Lee Wiggins, stated that had the inspection taken place, any rope swing discovered on the tree would have been removed, "as per policy".
Representatives for Surrey County Council said expert evidence shows an inspection may not have achieved a “material different outcome”.
In statement read by assistant coroner Ivor Collett on behalf of Brooke’s mother, Claire Etherington, she was described as a “beautiful, fun, caring and loving girl” who had “the most incredible way of lighting up every room she went into”.
“She was always surrounded by the people who loved her, and it’s easy to see why – she gave so much love back,” her mother said.
Brooke loved dancing, art, singing and taking photographs.
She took pride in expressing herself, and “never went anywhere without her eyelashes on”, she said.
“She was a smart girl with so much potential.
“We will always wonder what she would have gone on to achieve in her life,” Ms Etherington said.
She added that she hopes knowing what happened to Brooke will bring “a small sense of closure” and “some understanding”.
In a second statement read by Mr Collett, Brooke’s father told the inquest his daughter was an “amazing young woman”, who was “bright” and “very funny”.
He said: “I am devasted that my baby girl has been taken from me.
“She packed so much into her short life.
“Only 12 years old, and now she’s gone forever.
“When I think of her, I ask myself, ‘why my darling Brooke?’”
“If only people had done their job properly… the one thing they are paid to do, and did it properly, Brooke would still be here,” Mr Wiggins added.
Speaking at the start of the hearing, Mr Collett said: “This is a particularly sad inquest.
“Of course, there are no happy inquests, but this is dreadful because it concerns the death of a young child and there’s no escaping that.
“To the family, I am bound to sound, at times, rather cold and distant… (but) I do not take away for a moment the unending pain felt by the family by the loss of their beloved daughter.”
The inquest continues.
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