Father Accuses Council of Negligence in Tragic Death of 12-Year-Old Girl
A young girl was fatally injured by a falling tree branch while using a rope swing, an inquest has heard, with her father blaming Surrey County Council for failing to remove the hazardous branch. Brooke Wiggins, just days shy of her 13th birthday, suffered fatal wounds on November 9, 2024, in Banstead, Surrey. The South London Coroner’s Court was informed that the council had scheduled a re-inspection of the branch six months prior to the incident, but this inspection never took place.
Council’s Inspection Failure Under Scrutiny
Christian Weaver, representing Brooke’s father Lee Wiggins, argued that if the inspection had been conducted as planned, any rope swing attached to the tree should have been removed in accordance with council policy. He emphasized that this oversight directly contributed to the tragic event. In response, representatives for Surrey County Council contended that expert evidence suggests an inspection might not have led to a significantly different outcome, though this claim is being challenged during the proceedings.
Family’s Heartbreaking Tributes to a Vibrant Young Life
Lee Wiggins described his daughter as an ‘amazing young woman’ who was ‘bright and very funny.’ He expressed profound devastation, stating, ‘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.’
Brooke’s mother, Claire Etherington, in a statement read by assistant coroner Ivor Collett, remembered her as a ‘beautiful, fun, caring and loving girl’ with ‘the most incredible way of lighting up every room she went into.’ She noted that Brooke was always surrounded by loved ones and gave immense love in return. Brooke had a passion for dancing, art, singing, and photography, and took pride in expressing herself, never going anywhere without her eyelashes on. Etherington lamented, ‘She was a smart girl with so much potential. We will always wonder what she would have gone on to achieve in her life.’
Coroner’s Remarks on the Tragic Case
At the start of the hearing, Mr. Collett acknowledged the particularly sad nature of the inquest, 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 assured the family that while his role might seem cold and distant at times, he does not underestimate their unending pain from the loss of their beloved daughter. The inquest is ongoing as further evidence is examined.
