Tree that killed man at Darwin golf course ‘should not have been there’, inquest hears

A large mahogany tree that killed a man at a Darwin golf course when it dropped a branch should have been removed prior to the incident, a worker at a company that managed vegetation on the course has told an inquest.
Key Points:

William Brown died in 2014 after being hit by a branch of a tree while playing golf
Worker at company that managed course vegetation says tree should have been removed
Inquest to examine who held responsibility for maintaining the tree

In opening remarks from counsel assisting the coroner, Jodi Truman, the Northern Territory Coroner’s Court heard 62-year-old William Brown died on June 12, 2014, six days after he was struck by the branch.

Mr Brown was playing golf with a friend at Darwin’s Gardens Park Golf Links when the branch fell on him and pinned him to the ground.

He was taken to hospital but ultimately he and his family decided that with low prospects of recovery he would be put into palliative care, and he later died in the Royal Adelaide Hospital.

Three employees of the company Active Tree Services, which was tasked with managing the tree, gave evidence.

One worker, Gregory Hunt, was questioned by coroner Greg Cavanagh about whether he thought it was appropriate such a large tree was situated in an area where people were often standing at the golf club.

Mr Hunt replied: “I think they should have removed it,” and remarked he had taken out a lot of those types of trees before in his work.

The company describes itself as Australia’s largest vegetation management company.

Ms Truman said it appeared there was an arrangement between the tree company and golf club whereby Active Tree Services carried out maintenance of the tree in exchange for free golf club membership for one of their employees, Christopher Gregg.

The inquest called for a thorough examination of who held responsibility for the maintenance of the tree: the golf club, the tree company, or even Darwin Council.

The inquest will also examine whether the tree was maintained correctly before Mr Brown’s death.

Source: ABC News