Finding into death of Elaine Betty Sime

72y · Female·multi-organ failure secondary to poly-trauma and likely bee-sting related toxidrome

Elaine Betty Sime, a 72-year-old fit and healthy woman, died from multi-organ failure following poly-trauma and bee sting toxidrome after a tree fell on her during a walk. The tree at Ruffey Lake Park Trail failed due to significant decay at its base. The coroner found that the Manningham City Council failed to meet its statutory obligation to maintain Crown Land and monitor trees in this public area. Had the Council actively engaged in routine monitoring and maintained proper records of tree maintenance, the decaying tree likely would have been identified and removed, preventing the incident. The finding emphasises the importance of proactive asset management, documentation, and risk assessment in public spaces. The Council subsequently implemented comprehensive improvements including a new Tree Management Plan based on risk-based best practice systems.