Oxford: Mum says tree death 'accident waiting to happen'

Alexander Kippax,19, was struck by a falling tree in King George Playing Fields off Botley Road on August 18, 2023. 

Paramedics and an air ambulance were called to the park at around 5.45pm but he was pronounced dead at the scene.

He died due to a traumatic head injury.

The area in the park was taped off and flowers were left at the scene with a tribute from his mum saying he was “taken away from us too soon”.

It read: “We love you Alex. You are a true beautiful soul that helped anyone and everyone. I’ve always been proud of you Alex.

“We will greatly miss your beautiful smile, you’re loving nature and bubbly ways. We will always be thinking of you. You are forever in our hearts and minds. RIP my beautiful boy.”

Alexander Kippax (Image: Go Fund Me)A pre-inquest review meeting held yesterday (September 24) at Oxford's Coroner's Court heard that the tree was "marked as dead" six years before the incident happened. 

The meeting was held by Oxfordshire coroner Darren Salter to discuss what evidence was needed and for issues and concerns to be raised ahead of the full inquest.

READ MORE: Didcot man died at Oxford hospital after 'complications'

The court heard that the investigation was passed onto the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) on August 21, 2023 and that this process is ongoing.

Spokespeople for Oxford City Council (OCC) and Oxford District Services (ODS) attended the meeting, as well as Fiona Woods, an inspector for the HSE.

Ms Woods told the coroner that the HSE is "awaiting a specialist report" and it is unlikely the report will be prepared before December this year. 

Mr Salter said it was “surprising at this stage there is not an expert report”.

The court heard the tree in question was "noted in 2017 and 2020 that it needed to be pollarded" and that in 2020 it was marked on inspection as "no action required". 

Alex's mum was present at the meeting. 

Flowers were left at the scene following the incident (Image: Newsquest)“On the day it happened it was a hot day. There was no wind or rain," Ms Kippax said. 

"It was written off dead in 2017. It should have been taken down instantly.

“The area the tree was in was a flood plain - it would not withstand a flood. This was going to fall.

READ MORE: Flooding across Oxfordshire causes widespread disruption

"It was an accident waiting to happen since 2017."

At the meeting Mr Salter outlined the next steps that are required to take place ahead of the full inquest. 

He asked for various internal documents to be prepared and provided by OCC, ODS and the HSE, which included documents relating to the inspection and maintenance of the tree as well as previous incident reports. 

He said that a prevention of future deaths report may be required at the full inquest, adding that the full inquest is estimated to take two to three days and will "likely" require a jury.

He said the inquest is unlikely to take place before the middle of next year.