A young couple desperate to cut down a huge gum tree in their backyard say it has dropped a limb that could have killed them.

Chloe Tuff and her husband are locked in a dispute with Kingston Council to fell the tree, who claim it’s healthy.

She told 3AW Breakfast they were scared to use the backyard of their Chelsea Heights home.

Ms Tuff said she was left shaking when a limb from the tree fell and took down their clothesline when they were outside with their daughter.

‘If it had hit us, it would have killed us. The council assessor agreed that the limb was big enough to kill,’ she said.

Click PLAY to hear the full interview with Ross and John