16:17, 22 Apr 2026Updated 16:20, 22 Apr 2026<\/p>\n
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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)<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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 <\/a>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 \u2014 an examination that never took place.<\/p>\n 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<\/a>.<\/p>\n 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”.<\/p>\n “She was always surrounded by the people who loved her, and it’s easy to see why \u2013 she gave so much love back,” her mother said.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n 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”.<\/p>\n In a second statement <\/a>read by Mr Collett, Brooke’s father described his daughter as an “amazing young woman”, who was “bright” and “very funny”.<\/p>\n 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?’<\/p>\n