The family of a Bristol woman killed on holiday in France by a parasite-ridden historic tree has been paid £86,000 in compensation . Carolyn Thorpe , 62 , was enjoying a cup of coffee outside a cafe in Hiers-Brouage , a seaside town in south-west France , when the 20-foot tree toppled and crushed her to death in 2007 . Her daughter Sarah Wright was also injured by the American ash tree , which was planted 200 years ago to mark the birth of Napoleon I 's first son . Carolyn Thorpe was sat in a pavement cafe when the huge tree fell onto her and her daughter . Ms Thorpe , age 62 , was killed and her daughter Sarah Wright was injured . The family have now received around £86,000 . The 200-year-old ash tree was planted to celebrate the birth of Napoleon I 's first son . An investigation after the tragic accident found it was ridden with parasites that had rotted the wood and made it very unstable . Napoleon Bonaparte . The tree that crushed Carolyn Thorpe was planted to mark the birth of his son . The town hall of Hiers-Brouage has now paid more than €100,000 , or £86,000 , in compensation for the tragic accident . It was found the tree had been weakened by parasites making it dangerously unstable , French website The Local reports . Of the sum , Ms Wright received €42,000 ( £30,400 ) while €77,000 ( £55,600 ) was paid out for Ms Thorpe 's death . The American ash tree - which was kept as a historical monument within the small town - was between six and seven metres high and measured 13 feet in diameter . When contacted by press agency AFP the current Mayor of Hiers-Brouage refused to comment . At the time of the accident the then-Mayor was reported as saying : 'Everyone thought that [ the tree ] would hold on for a while longer . '
another passenger from Bristol died when the car fell onto her in 2007 . The 62-year - old 's daughter was also injured in the tragic accident . Town hall of Hiers - Brouage has now paid out thousands in damages .