Tree incidents in SA: The state’s horror history of freak branch falls revealed

The death of a 22-year-old woman in a freak branch fall is the fourth serious incident in four years, putting a spotlight on SA’s horror tree history.

As the community reels from a freak tree branch accident that killed a young woman, questions are being asked about whether more should be done to deal with dangerous trees.

On Wednesday, a 22-year-old woman died after a gum tree trunk collapsed on her at the University of Adelaide soccer ground on War Memorial Dr.

The woman’s death came just weeks after a young mum and her daughter were struck by a falling tree branch at a Mount Barker playground and is the fourth major incident in the past four years.

At the end of 2020, beloved Seymour College teacher Judy Ditter and Surrey Downs man Wayne Couch were both killed in the space of weeks by branches.

With the families of victims left behind left to pick up the pieces after each tragedy, the incidents have sparked inquests, council pressure and calls for more proactive tree maintenance.

Mount Barker, 2024

In mid-January, a young single mother and her four-year-old daughter were hit by a falling tree branch at Keith Stephenson Park in Mount Barker, shattering her leg and potentially leaving her with lifelong injuries.

Anna Frances-Wood, 29, was at the popular playground when a large branch fell from about 10m above and struck her, snapping her leg “like a twig”.

Two prongs on the huge branch, which she estimated was between 15-30cm in diameter, miraculously fell either side of her daughter Juniper, 4, who was covered in leaves. It also hit a nearby father and his child running to help.

She was left facing months of painful recovery and she relearned to walk.

After the incident, Mount Barker council arborists attended the site, undertaking a thorough inspection and pruning of all trees within the fenced playground.

Anna Frances-Wood was hit by a falling tree branch at Keith Stephenson Park in Mount Barker. Picture: Supplied

Parklands, 2022

Children climbing in the canopy of a giant gum tree at the TreeClimb aerial adventure park in the South Parklands narrowly escaped injury when a huge trunk snapped and crashed to the ground in January 2022.

The incident sparked an call by Adelaide City Council councillor Phil Martin for an urgent audit of all trees at the facility.

Glenelg North man Iliano Puccini, 72, said he heard “an almighty crack’’ and turned to see the huge trunk falling among dozens of children and adults enjoying the facility.

“If those cables were not holding the branch up I have no doubt there would have been casualties,” he said.

Stirling, 2020

Beloved grandmother and Seymour College teacher Judy Ditter, 59, from Crafers, died when a tree branch fell on top of her car while driving on Mt Barker Rd, near Gould Rd, in Stirling.

A 26-year-old Aldgate woman who was in the passenger seat was treated in hospital for non life-threatening injuries.

Ms Ditter left behind a husband, Bruce, and three children – Sophie, Phoebe and Nick. She also had a grandson, Oscar.

The junior school teacher was mourned as a committed Christian who would be remembered with great affection by her loved ones and students whose lives she touched.

The incident sparked renewed debate over how local governments dealt with large trees near roads.

Beloved mother and grandmother Judy Ditter was killed by a tree branch in the Adelaide Hills. Picture: Supplied by family

Children narrowly escaped disaster at the TreeClimb in the Parklands. Picture: Michael Marschall

Surrey Downs, 2020

Just a month after Ms Ditter died, Wayne Couch, 57, was killed when a tree fell on his pergola in the northeastern suburb of Surrey Downs in December 2020.

He had been entertaining friends at his Amanda Dr home when the shocking ­accident happened,

Neighbour Shirley Goodall said she believed the tree was infested with white ants and had reported it to council, but official documents showed no such application had been filed.

Ms Goodall said a branch from the same tree on Mr Couch’s property crushed her carport a decade before he was killed.

Hawthorndene, 2014

A two-year-old boy was rushed to hospital for emergency surgery in February 2014, after a falling tree branch crushed his leg.

The toddler was at Apex Park on Forest Ave when the accident happened and rushed to Flinders Medical Centre.

With winds of 100km/h lashing the state at the time, the incident prompted renewed warnings from the SES to remain on high alert around trees during wild weather.

The scene at Ironbank where Dennis Smith was helping clear a tree when he was crushed by another tree in 2012. Neighbour and friend Anthony Wagenknecht at the scene.

Ironbank, 2012

Dennis Smith, a father and Burnside Primary School teacher, was left in intensive care after being crushed by a falling tree at Ironbank in the Adelaide Hills.

Mr Smith spent 13 weeks in the Hampstead Rehabilitation Centre’s spinal injuries unit with badly damaged internal organs, broken ribs, shredded muscles and bones snapped from his spine.

As he lay pinned beneath the limbs of a ghost gum in the Adelaide Hills, Mr Smith called out for his wife Melanie and son Tom, 16.

“I just remember having my family there. I remember lying there with my eyes closed and hearing their voices,” he said.

Rebecca Jolly died when a tree branch fell on her car while she was driving on Greenhill Road.

Hazelwood Park, 2010

Rebecca Jolly, 20, was driving on Greenhill Road at Hazelwood Park in January 2010 when a 7m tree limb fell from a Grey Box Gum Tree into her car.

She succumbed to her injuries days later in hospital.

In the years following Ms Jolly’s death, an inquest was told that neighbours had contacted the Burnside Council several times with concerns over the rotting gum tree that killed her.

The tree along Greenhill Road, Hazelwood Park from which a limb fell and killed Rebecca Jolly.

A photo of Rebecca Jolley and flowers in a tribute at the scene of her death.

Whyalla, 2007

Deanna Sherry was killed by a falling tree at The Revival Fellowship churchground in Whyalla in 2007.

Whyalla Mayor Jim Pollock at the site of the accident that killed Deanna Sherry at The Revival Fellowship church when she was struck by a falling tree in October 2007.

Deanna Sherry, 12, died and friend Jennifer Giles, 8, was hurt when they were hit by a falling tree while playing in a Whyalla church ground in October 2007.

The girls were taking a break from the Sunday service at The Revival Fellowship when a powerful wind gust toppled the 10m gum tree, leaving the town in shock and deep sorrow.

Originally published as Tree incidents in SA: The state’s horror history of freak branch falls revealed