Wayne Couch’s widow calls on local council to pay to remove tree which killed her husband

The widow of a Surrey Downs man who was killed by a falling tree branch in a freak accident has grave concerns history will repeat itself.

The widow of a Surrey Downs man who was killed by a falling tree branch at his property has grave concerns history will repeat itself, her heartfelt letter to the local council reveals.

The branch fell onto Wayne Couch’s pergola on December 12 last year, ultimately crushing the 57-year-old to death as he was entertaining friends.

However, in a letter to the council calling on it to contribute towards the tree’s removal, his widow said she would be scarred for life by the experience.

“I have visions of that night imprinted on my mind that I am sure will stay with me forever,” she wrote.

“I am certain that once the veranda is replaced I will live (in) fear of the same thing happening again.

“No one can ever understand what impact that experience has on our lives and I do not wish that on anyone.

“There was no prior warning and the impact was almost immediate.”

Wayne Couch was killed when the tree branch fell onto his pergola. Picture: Mike Burton

She said the tree had dropped three other branches in recent times before the fourth killed her husband.

In her letter, she told the council she had “grave concerns” she would be sued if another branch fell and injured one of her neighbours.

She has also asked the council for permission, and to contribute financially, to remove the tree “as soon as possible”.

She was worried increasing temperatures would increase the chance of “limb failure”.

“I do fear that someone else could suffer the same fate and I do not want to live with another person’s death on my conscience,” she said.

The tree branch fell onto a pergola which crushed Wayne Couch while entertaining guests at his home. Picture: Mike Burton

However, an arborist’s report found the tree was in “generally good overall condition”.

“The tree does not display factors that indicate it has an elevated likelihood of branch failure nor is it considered to represent an unacceptable risk to users of the area around the tree,” it read.

The council estimate it would cost up to $10,000 to remove the tree.

It contributed to a tree removal in 2016 on private land as it needed emergency works to address a” public risk”.

Elected members may either decline the request or contribute to its removal on “compassionate grounds” on Tuesday night at a meeting of council.

The Surrey Downs community was left devastated by the freak accident. Picture: Mike Burton

Deputy Mayor Lucas Jones previously said there was “definitely” too much red tape involved in the process of applying to have deadly limbs or whole trees removed.

“When do you say enough is enough and do a full blown audit, as opposed to waiting for a tree to come down,” Cr Jones said.

“I don’t think the residents should be up for the costs of it being removed. That would be pretty heartless.”

The widow said she had spent 10 weeks living at a friend’s home because her property was “too badly damaged”, before returning on March 1.

“My home is still under repair, the veranda, shed roof and solar panels are still to be replaced,” she wrote.