Warning after tree falls in Aussie park usually 'full of kids' playing: 'Ticking time bomb'

Aussies are being warned to get their gum trees checked ahead of summer after a fallen branch was found lying in a park that is usually "full of kids playing sport".

The fallen branch was found by a dog walker on Thursday in Bales Park in Sydney's northern suburb of Willoughby, and while no one was hurt, gum trees' notorious ability to drop their branches at any given moment poses a severe safety risk that shouldn't be taken lightly.

"[It was a] massive branch, easily a few hundred kilograms on the ground," the dog walker wrote online. "[It's a] good reminder, especially at this time of year, to get your gum trees checked out."

Gum trees have been described as "ticking time bombs" online as they can drop branches at any time and without warning, with the trees found throughout mainland Australia. However, it is understood the trees are more likely to drop their branches in summer, during hot or humid weather or when they are exposed to really strong wind.

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Why do gum trees drop their branches?

It is unknown exactly why the trees drop their branches but it's generally believed to be a resilience measure — ultimately letting go of a branch rather than forfeiting the entire tree.

There are different kinds of gum trees but some can grow as high as 60 metres in height, meaning the weight of branches can get pretty hefty. The trees are also called 'widow makers' and the nickname shouldn't be taken lightly, Royal Botanic Gardens chief botanist Brett Summerell previously told Yahoo News.

"If someone is hit by the falling limbs in the wrong way it can be fatal," he said. "The term probably comes from forestry circles a while ago when most workers were male and if they died a fair chance of leaving their wife behind as a widow".

In February, a 22-year-old woman died after a gum tree branch fell on her while she was sitting in its shade in Adelaide. The month prior, a huge branch fell onto a ute and its rooftop tent, completely crushing it while campers were only metres away.

In 2022, a two-tonne branch fell at adventure park TreeClimb in Adelaide, narrowly missing children.

What can Aussies do to protect themselves against gum trees?

It's best practice not to sit underneath a gum tree as they can fall at any time, however, the risk heightens when it's hot or windy weather, as well as with older or less healthy trees.

It is recommended that Aussies hire an arborist to check on a gum tree's health status who can pick up on any signs of disease, damage or physical stress.

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