Killed by falling tree

[MHarryE]

Cook man dies while cutting tree | KBJR 6 & Range 11 | KDLH 3: News, Weather, Sports for Duluth MN / Superior WI / Northland | Iron Range

Neighbor of mine, felling trees and skidding them out to an area where his 77 year old father cuts and splits for his firewood business. Scott worked on our farm during his high school years and has been logging most of his life. He was winding down logging - injuries incurred through the years taking their toll - and was to start a new job with one of our summer residents who has a construction business in Florida. It takes just one critical mistake.

 

[BoylermanCT]

Very sorry. Farming / ranching can be a very dangerous business.

 

[davesl708]

That is sad. I lost a cousin to a tree. As you stated one mistake can be tragic.

 

[ovrszd]

Very sorry for your loss. My prayers are with his family.

 

[5030]

Things happen, I always hope they don't happen to me. Been farming 30 years and have all my fingers and toes yet, most of my hair (what is left) too. I've had some close ones. all due to my own stupidity, machines have no feelings.....

 

[Mitkof]

I agree 5030, sometimes things just happen. Been sawing 40 years, two weeks ago I hit some old rusty unseen barbed wire in heavy brush. Chain came back and slapped me real hard. I was wearing my safety chaps, thanks you Lord. It ruined that new chain, turning it into dumpster food, bending about 15 drive links and cracking a bunch of the rivets.
My prayers are with his the family tonight…

 

[gwstang]

..." machines have no feelings..... "

Well put! That is what I would tell my two boys as they were growing up and learning to use the old Ford 8N. I told them many times that the bush hog/equipment don't feel no pain but will deliver lots of pain, if you let it. I watched them like a hawk too. The one thing I never let them do was run the chainsaw. I always did that myself. They got real good at "totin'" wood though...lol. They hated that wood heater in the winter...lol. :laughing:

 

[oldballs]

Actually, it is hard for me to imagine that a tree fell on an experienced person. I wonder what the explanation was. I guess an experienced person can get careless, tired or be on medication or drugs. Makes me wonder what might happen to a less experienced......just sayin'. May he rest in peace and may his family be consoled.

 

[Coyote machine]

MHarryE,
Sorry to hear of your neighbor's untimely death. Condolences to you, and his family.

oddballs,
It is not uncommon for experienced as well as inexperienced tree workers to die in the line of work. Anything can and will happen while felling trees, it is the nature of the work, too many variables, too few certainties. I highly doubt an experienced tree worker would be doing drugs, as you infer, while felling trees, though they might easily be overtired and pushing to get something done. Tree work is some of the most dangerous work on planet Earth, due to it's unpredictable nature.

 

[ovrszd]

MHarryE,
Sorry to hear of your neighbor's untimely death. Condolences to you, and his family.

oddballs,
It is not uncommon for experienced as well as inexperienced tree workers to die in the line of work. Anything can and will happen while felling trees, it is the nature of the work, too many variables, too few certainties. I highly doubt an experienced tree worker would be doing drugs, as you infer, while felling trees, though they might easily be overtired and pushing to get something done. Tree work is some of the most dangerous work on planet Earth, due to it's unpredictable nature.

I'm with Mike on this one. The person in question made a serious error. For whatever reason. Doesn't matter now.

Now I've jinxed myself and will be killed with the next tree I fall..... :confused3:

 

[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.

 

[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.

 

[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.