I am writing this to reinforce how cautious we all must be with even the simplest tasks. Yesterday, Saturday November 1st., I was outside while my neighbor and a friend were getting ready to cut a limb from a tree. The limb was only about 8 ft. off the ground and 8" in diameter. My neighbor had a 10' step ladder, and his friend volunteered to cut the limb. Remember, the limb was not too high up nor too long. As my neighbor held the ladder his friend climbed to the next to the top step and began cutting. The limb broke and fell before he had cut it completely through, and swung down and hit my neighbor in the side of the face. He fell and the ladder did not; his friend climbed down and yelled for help. I went over, and my neighbor, age 57, was on the ground DEAD! Evidentally, the limb fractured his skull and/or broke his neck. Called 911 immediately, but nothing they could do.......
Just goes to show us how fragile life is, and how easily it can be snuffed out. Remember, be careful!!!!

 

I am so sorry to hear that. I always use happenings like this to make sure I am where I need to be in life spiritually etc because you never know when your time here has come to an end.

 

there's a reason they call them widowmakers...

tree work is dangerous enough on the ground.

 

Gosh!!! How very tragic!!!

57 is NOT very old to be taken away already!!!

You have my deepest condolences.

 

Very sorry to hear this,Buck

I cut trees for a living for 4 years with a couple different tree companies.

I only got hit in the head once...luckily I was wearing a hard hat...but it still gave me a headache...

The first day I worked trimming power lines, the forman came by and lectured me for 20 minutes about not touching the truck while the bucket was near the lines...

another new worker had lost his life that morning...he brushed by the truck walking around it and grounded the truck.

 

I fell >20 feet from the tree my kds tree house is in while measuring for an upper deck.
I should be dead or at least in a wheelchair, but I escaped with a broken pelvis, seven broken ribs, and a shattered elbow. All has healed but I only have about 23 degrees movement in my left elbow and can't twist my wrist (ie hand out to take change from somebody) due to the injury. 3 plates and 23 screws in my left arm. 10 days in the ICU adn 10 days in the rehab wing before I could leave.

Needless to say, I don't take my safety at height for granted anymore. And no, the addtition has never been, nor will it be, completed.

I am so very sorry to hear about the death of your neighbor.

 

Sorry to hear about the loss. I will be praying for all. Life changes in an instant. We can't count on anything.

 

Are you able to work as a Tech now?

 

took the words right out of my mouth. as 4 the op, my prayers are with u.

 

That's awful. I always watch these guys and wonder do you really need to support the limb by a rope? I guess you do.

 

Sorry to hear about the neighbor. I hate trimming on trees and quite frankly will pay for almost anything more than I can get from the ground. Had a friend that said that when he went out into his backyard one day heard somebody calling him, but it took a while to figure out where it was coming from. Seems his neighbor tried to cut some branches and the chainsaw swung down and cut his leg. They had to call the fire department and ambulance to get him down out of the tree. You just can't be too careful. Also is a good reason to only hire professionals that have insurance, because if they get hurt you can be held liable if they don't.

 

It is truly a shame that happened and even more that you had to witness something like that. I love life as much as anyone maybe more but those times no matter whether you know them or not is harsh and some times left with only why. I' am getting along far enough and experienced enough to know that there is no rhyme or reason to why something done hundreds of times and even though most simplest can end in loss.

It is not for us to know or understand only except. I will put something here I have posted a couple of times here already on FTE. I know some of you have read this already and forgive me for one more, I will put the brakes to it after this but I pass it along as something simple I first started running through my head in times of deep turmoil years back. I found comfort in this:

Through out all our lives we all ride with death, how we choose to ride is our own to decide.

Some will ride with their hat tipped to a side with their hand up by their face as though to shield from a harsh bitter wind and driving snow while others will try to out run in fear.

Some will ride cocked in the saddle leaning on the inside stirrup looking face to face with death shaking an upraised fist shouting and screaming in anger and defiance.

Still others will regal in this company riding side by side sometime leading sometimes following to the end.

I prefer to ride quietly with him silently acknowledging his presence and respect the times we have to share the same crossing but live fully and alive for one day with or with out warning the unknown will take me as well at his bidding.

 

I hope I have not become morbid and felt I should add this to the thought of being careful, "Death Rides With Us" was recently bought to mind when a close friend of mine that lost his son and daughter in law at their summer cabin recently. There was a 2 1\2 year old girl and a 1 year old boy that even though dehydrated survived and doing well.

They were discovered mid week by a furnace repair man that was hired to work on the system at the cabin. No details other than this but gas furnace repair in cooling weather makes me wonder.

 

RIP Live life to the fullest

 

Every safety rule is written in blood, and stupidity kills many people every year.
Always take proper, professional precautions and find out what those are if in doubt. Clear unnecessary humans out of the way of dangerous work, and tie off anything that might flail.

A rule I use is to EXPECT everything that I'm moving/cutting/etc to fall whether it should or not, and to be prepared so the fall won't matter.