Overview

• Assistant coroner Ivor Collett said the inquest will examine Surrey County Council’s role in inspecting and maintaining the tree involved in the fatal incident.
• The coroner ruled that police body‑worn camera footage will not be played because it is too distressing for court.
• An inspection recommended removing all branches from the tree (“monolithing”); works had been paused, but the coroner said they may now begin.
• The accident occurred on land owned by the London Borough of Sutton, while the tree was on nearby land owned and maintained by Surrey County Council.
• Brooke Wiggins, 12, was trapped after a branch snapped while she used a rope swing in Banstead; specialists took 90–120 minutes to free her, and she died soon after, with a full inquest set for next year.