Brooke Wiggins died days before her 13th birthday
Kirstie McCrum and Izzie Addison Press Association
16:17, 22 Apr 2026Updated 16:20, 22 Apr 2026
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 “fun and caring” 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 prior, an inquest has heard.
Brooke Wiggins passed away just days before her 13th birthday on November 9 2024 in Banstead, after sustaining a fatal injury from the impact of the branch, South London Coroner’s Court was told on Wednesday (April 22). The inquest revealed that the tree Brooke had been swinging from, which was maintained by Surrey County Council, had last been inspected in May 2022 and was due for re-inspection in May 2024 — an examination that never took place.
Acting on behalf of Brooke’s father, Lee Wiggins, Christian Weaver argued that had the inspection gone ahead, any rope swing discovered on the tree would have been taken down, “as per policy”. Surrey County Council representatives countered that expert evidence suggests an inspection may not have achieved a “material different outcome”, reports Surrey Live.
In a heartfelt statement read by assistant coroner Ivor Collett on behalf of Brooke’s mother, Claire Etherington, the youngster 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 had a passion for dancing, art, singing and photography. She took great pride in expressing herself, and “never went anywhere without her eyelashes on”, her mother added. “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 went on to express her hope that learning the truth about what happened to Brooke would provide “a small sense of closure” and “some understanding”.
In a second statement read 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 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.
Want to see more of the stories you love from the Irish Mirror? Making us your preferred source on Google means you’ll get more of our exclusives… To add Irish Mirror as a preferred source, simply click here.