Huddersfield girl’s death after tree branch falls

Jun 4 2009 Huddersfield Daily Examiner

Inquest hears how girl, 13, was killed by branch

A TEENAGE girl in the “wrong place at the wrong time” died after being struck by a falling tree branch.

And an inquest in Huddersfield heard how there were no regular safety checks on thousands of trees across the town.

It was May bank holiday last year when schoolgirl Alice Mary Kelly, 13, was walking across Reinwood recreation ground with two friends.

A Huddersfield inquest heard how the branch, estimated to weigh half a tonne, fell and hit her.

The heavy branch of the maple tree had split from the main trunk.

Alice, who lived nearby on Millfield Close, Oakes, with her mother Katie, sadly died soon after from chest injuries.

Nurse Ina Simpson was walking home from work at around 3.15pm when she saw the group of friends and said ‘Hello’ to them.

Moments later she heard a bang and saw the branch falling and heard the girls screaming.

She called an ambulance but was unable to move the tree branch which was on top of Alice.

She tried to resuscitate the schoolgirl and stayed with her until help arrived.

Coroner Mark Hinchliffe praised the ‘heroic efforts’ of Mrs Simpson.

He recorded a verdict of accidental death.

Alice was said to have died as a result of respiratory failure from her chest injuries.

She was a student at Salendine Nook High School and many fellow pupils attended her funeral, raising cash for the Sheffield Children’s Hospital.

Mr David Rose, head of tree health for the diagnostic and advisory service for the Forestry Commission, was asked to assess the tree.

He was asked by the coroner that, if the tree had been looked at in the previous two years, would the danger have been known?

Mr Rose answered: “It’s very difficult for me to comment on that.”

He said the tree would probably have been showing signs of risk.

Mr Rose examined the remains and found evidence that the branch was showing signs of weakness where it joined to the tree.

The tree was cut down immediately after the tragic accident.

Stephen Palmer, Kirklees contract manager for the forestry section, also gave evidence.

He and his team look after in excess of 2.5m trees in the Kirklees area.

He said: “We have a rolling programme for highway trees for a 12 to 24 month period.”

But there was no ‘rolling programme’ to assess the safety of trees in parks and schools.

In the case of Reinwood, he said the department relied on the grounds’ maintenance staff to alert them to trees with cause for concern.

Recording the accidental death verdict, Mr Hinchliffe, Deputy Coroner for West Yorkshire, said: “I’m satisfied the branch was not being interfered with by people at the time.

“Weather conditions were unusual which would have had some affect on the stability of the tree.

“Alice was with two of her friends and was in the park and unfortunately was very much in the wrong place at the wrong time”.

He added: “I suppose in the old days a coroner would have said this was an Act of God – but I would say this was a terrible and tragic accident.”