Brooke Etherington, named on the coroner's list as Brooke Wiggins, was killed by a branch that snapped from a tree she was swinging on using a rope swing(Image: FACEBOOK)
A "bright and funny" 12 year old girl tragically lost her life after being struck by a falling branch while playing on a rope swing that "should have been removed" from a tree six months earlier, an inquest was told.
Brooke Wiggins passed away just days shy of her 13th birthday on November 9, 2024, in Banstead following the fatal impact of the branch, South London Coroner's Court heard on Wednesday (April 22). The hearing was informed that the tree from which Brooke had been swinging, under the maintenance of Surrey County Council, had undergone inspection in May 2022 and was scheduled for re-examination in May 2024, which never took place.
Speaking on behalf of Brooke's father, Lee Wiggins, Christian Weaver stated that had the inspection been conducted, any rope swing discovered on the tree ought to have been taken down, "as per policy". Surrey County Council representatives indicated that expert testimony suggests an inspection might not have resulted in a "material different outcome", reports Surrey Live.
In a statement delivered by assistant coroner Ivor Collett on behalf of Brooke's mother, Claire Etherington, she was portrayed as a "beautiful, fun, caring and loving girl" who possessed "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 had a passion for dancing, art, singing and photography. She took great pride in her self-expression, 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 expressed hope that discovering the circumstances surrounding Brooke's death might offer "a small sense of closure" and "some understanding".
In a separate statement delivered by Mr Collett, Brooke's father described his daughter as 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.
Opening the proceedings, Mr Collett remarked: "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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