Brooke Wiggins, a 12-year-old girl from Banstead, Surrey, was killed by a falling tree branch while swinging on it, an inquest at South London Coroners' Court has heard. The incident occurred on November 9, 2024, just days before her 13th birthday.
Surrey County Council had been due to re-inspect the branch six months before the accident but did not carry out the inspection, according to major media reports. Christian Weaver, the lawyer for Brooke's father Lee Wiggins, said that under council policy, any rope swing found on the tree should have been removed if the inspection had been performed. The failure to inspect, he argued, may have contributed to the tragedy.
I am devastated that my baby girl has been taken from me.
However, representatives for Surrey County Council said that expert evidence suggests an inspection may not have achieved a materially different outcome. The council has not commented on why the re-inspection was not carried out, and it remains unclear what exactly caused the branch to fall or whether a rope swing was present at the time of the accident.
Brooke's parents paid tribute to their daughter at the inquest. Her father, Lee Wiggins, said: "I am devastated 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." He added: "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."
She packed so much into her short life.
Her mother, Claire Etherington, described Brooke as "a beautiful, fun, caring and loving girl who had the most incredible way of lighting up every room she went into." She said: "She was always surrounded by the people who loved her, and it's easy to see why – she gave so much love back. She was a smart girl with so much potential. We will always wonder what she would have gone on to achieve in her life."
Assistant coroner Ivor Collett acknowledged the family's grief, saying: "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." He added: "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."
Only 12 years old, and now she's gone forever.
The inquest continues, with the coroner expected to determine responsibility and whether any systemic failures contributed to Brooke's death. The Health and Safety Executive is also investigating the incident.
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.
She was 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.
She was a smart girl with so much potential. We will always wonder what she would have gone on to achieve in her life.
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.