Killed by falling tree

[Helitech]

Lost my dad to an odd tree accident. We had a huge Oak tree next to my brothers driveway. It was partly dead and my dad had piled up limbs near the tree. The fire had gone up the trunk and I guess weakened the tree. The wind was blowing hard that day and a big limb broke out of the tree and hit him in the head. He was found with his hands on his head....deceased. 72 years old and in great health. It was horrible for us. After watching my mom and a brother die of cancer......all I can say is my dad passed away doing what he loved....being outside on the farm.

 

[5030]

We just had a similar fatality north of the farm today, a guy alone cutting trees and skidding logs (the wrong way) and the tractor rared up, came over and killed him. I would presume, open station, older unit and no seatbelt.

 

[jerrybob]

Sorry to hear about this guy.....thoughts to his friends and family. Lost a neighbor about three years ago in a tree accident.......tragic!

 

[CCWKen]

"Alone" is the key word. Don't you guys have a spotter when felling trees? I don't know, just wondering. I don't cut many trees down. I don't have many and try to keep what I have even if they are considered trash trees. Shade of any kind is welcome down here.

 

[farmer2009]

Had a local logger seriously injured around Thanksgiving. He was unchaining a load of logs. Had them stacked above the standards on a tractor trailer. Pulled the chain off and a log came off with it. Cracked skull, broken neck and back. Some other broken bones also. Was about 5 days before the doctors would give him a chance to live.

Logging is very dangerous. Condolences to the family.

 

[MinnesotaEric]

We just had a similar fatality north of the farm today, a guy alone cutting trees and skidding logs (the wrong way) and the tractor rared up, came over and killed him. I would presume, open station, older unit and no seatbelt.

I'm continually aware messing with my endless standing snags along my lakeshore at the new parcel, to always be situationally aware of anything falling from above when cutting.

 

[square1]

Sorry for your loss, but thanks for posting. It served as a timely reminder.

Yesterday after bucking, splitting and loading a cord at the landing I ventured into the woodlot thinking the new snow and below freezing temps had optimized conditions for skidding some trees to the landing.

The freezing rain / wind had snapped a 12" ash at ~10' up. The bottom of the broken off section was barely hung up on the butt log to the right and the top rested higher up in a black walnut on the left at ~45 degrees across the high (dry) trail. The low (wet) trail is not yet frozen enough to use without making a mess. Normally this would be no problem but I hadn't brought a throw line and rope, after all I had only came for a cord of firewood.

Finding myself blocked from accessing the woodlot and without the right equipment to clear the path, alternative methods to get the broken section of tree to the ground started running through my mind when this thread jumped to my forethought. Decided skidding a couple logs wasn't worth dying for.

 

[blueriver]

All accidents are tragic ... each of us wakes up every day facing that. Falling trees, PTO shafts, Jack Stands, Roll Overs Geez the list is long. I think alot of them happen when we tired and that impairs our judgement.

We have to double think every decision we make.

 

[ovrszd]

"Alone" is the key word. Don't you guys have a spotter when felling trees? I don't know, just wondering. I don't cut many trees down. I don't have many and try to keep what I have even if they are considered trash trees. Shade of any kind is welcome down here.

I've used my neighbor a few times when dealing with large trees that must be felled amongst others. I'm expecting him to warn me of broken limbs falling on me as the tree falls.

 

[GManBart]

Seriously? A thread about somebody killed in a logging accident has to turn into an argument? Maybe the victim did make a mistake. Maybe the victim didn't make a mistake. We probably will never find out for sure, but there's no need to start taking potshots at one another over it.