Coroner's Finding: Mrs W

63y · Female·multiple severe trauma from falling tree; specifically aortic transection with mediastinal and pleural haemorrhage

A 63-year-old woman died from severe blunt trauma after being struck by a falling tree while clearing fallen trees from her driveway during extreme weather. On a morning with weather warnings, heavy rain, and wind gusts of 98kph, multiple trees fell on the property. After the weather briefly improved, she and her husband began clearing the driveway. While her husband operated a chainsaw, a fourth tree fell unexpectedly, striking Mrs W. Her husband performed immediate CPR and called emergency services within seconds, but her injuries—including aortic transection, bilateral rib fractures, sternal fracture, and torn right atrium—were non-survivable. The coroner highlighted the obvious danger posed by high winds and working around trees in such conditions.