Ballito giant falls after more than 70 years
Simbithi marketing manager Liz Birt told The Courier that it was quite unexpected for the tree to fall as it is still green and showing no signs of rot.
Simbithi Country Club‘s iconic Fig tree came crashing down this morning causing some minor injuries and some major shock.
“We heard shouting and a loud crunching noise, then the tree slowly leaned and fell,” said Joan Gaitskell, who was golfing on the 18th green at the time.
“I saw a few people running away from the tree and then later a young lady being helped out from below the branches by Simbithi staff members.”
According to witnesses at Simbithi nobody was seriously hurt when the tree came down.
“Three people were treated for shock and a few scrapes,” said Liz Birt, marketing manager for Simbithi.
Birt told The Courier that it was quite unexpected for the tree to fall as it is still green and showing no signs of rot.
The restaurant is still open for trading,” said Birt, “though of course we are sad to lose this iconic tree.”
Peter Coulon, the environmental manager for Simbithi, said that a tree doctor would assess the damage on Sunday.
“It’s a shame to lose this tree which has been standing here for more than 70 years,” said Coulon, “That’s longer than most Ballito residents.”
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