'There was no warning before branch killed my wife'

The widower of a woman killed by a falling tree branch said they had been walking side-by-side on a summer's evening before they heard "a large cracking noise".

Jen Higgins, 49, was fatally crushed by the branch on Barlow Moor Road in the West Didsbury area of Manchester on 30 August 2025.

Her inquest heard parts of the beech tree, which had grown on privately owned land near the junction of Stanton Avenue, had been rotting from fungal decay.

Gawen Higgins, who was also injured, told Manchester Coroner's Court that he and his late wife had had "no time to take evasive action".

"I was in a state of shock – Jen was on the pavement and not responding," said Mr Higgins, who suffered minor scratches and bruising.

He told the inquest an off-duty nurse started resuscitation on his wife before emergency services arrived minutes later.

Despite all of their efforts "Jen died right there on the pavement, on a warm pleasant evening," Mr Higgins said.

"I remember a lot of diseased, rotten wood from the tree on the ground."

Mrs Higgins was pronounced dead at the scene at 19:40 BST.

Noel Nugent, a senior tree surgeon with 25 years' experience, attended the scene on behalf of Manchester City Council.

He found the "substantial branch" stretched across the entire road and "it quickly became evident where a large area [of the tree] was exposed, there was decay".

Nugent explained: "This decay would not have been visible prior to the branch failure. It would have been enclosed and not visible to the naked eye.

"Decay would have started when it was cut back and can take years and years. This fungus is particularly aggressive. It eats into living tissue rather than just dead wood."

Nugent returned to the scene the following day to further inspect the decay.

"As tree owners, we have a duty of care that they're inspected and maintained in a safe manner.

"But not everyone can recognise symptoms."

Karim Manssour-Dahbi, who owns the land upon which the tree stood, started his evidence by expressing his condolences to Mr Higgins.

He said his family had purchased the house on Stanton Avenue in 2020 and a general survey had not found any issues with the trees.

The property had seven large trees in its grounds but all seemed "healthy with strong green growth," he said.

He revealed they enlisted a tree surgeon around "four to five months" after they moved in to "trim them as the shadow was not allowing the grass to grow".

He said the work did not take place as it was unclear whether the house was in a tree preservation area or if the trees had preservation orders, though this was later shown not to be the case by the council.

When asked by the coroner if the tree had appeared to be diseased, he replied: "Absolutely not."

After the tragedy, Manssour-Dhabu was told to get the rest of the tree cut.

He enlisted a tree surgeon and now only the trunk remains.

Mr Higgins paid tribute to his late wife, whom he married in 2010.

He said she loved "yoga, travel and walking".

Together they ran the Manchester-based public relations firm Carousel.

Mr Higgins said his late wife, originally from Birkenhead, was a successful businesswoman.

She was previously described by her family as a "beloved wife, daughter, sister, daughter-in-law and aunt".

Coroner Jessica Swift concluded: "This is nothing short of a tragic and devastating accident that occurred that day."

Listen to the best of BBC Radio Manchester on Sounds and follow BBC Manchester on Facebook, X, and Instagram. You can also send story ideas via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230.