‘Beloved’ father, 48, killed by tree branch while walking his dog, council fined £500,000 for ‘avoidable’ death

A father was killed while walking his dog after a tree fell on him and the council has been fined £500,000.

Chris Hall, 48, was struck by the tree branch while out with his cocker spaniel, Benson, in Carrs Forest in Wilmslow on August 28, 2020.

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His heartbroken wife Fiona read a victim impact statement in court.

She said: “His death was completely senseless and completely avoidable.

“He was just walking our dog on a dry, warm summer day.

“His loss is colossal; his absence is enormous and he leaves a void that can never be filled.”

Just eleven months before Chris’ death, another large ‘branch’ had fallen from the same tree.

It had been reported to Cheshire East Council and their ground services contractor, Ansa Environmental Services Ltd.

But Chester Magistrates Court heard no action had been taken apart from a visual inspection by Ansa.

Matt Reynolds, prosecuting, from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) told the court there were “significant” structural problems with the tree.

The HSE investigation concluded that a proper risk assessment of the tree had not been carried out to see whether it posed a danger to the public.

They felt the council had not done enough, despite Ansa officials raising concerns about the health of the trees.

At an earlier hearing, both the local authority and Ansa admitted breaching section 3(1) of the Health and Safety at Work Act by exposing the public to risk.