22 year old died in Florida yesterday.

[Tom Dunlap]

It's now 30.5 hours after this thread was started. When the thread was posted I read the accompanying text but knew that I had no reason to watch any video. Five friends of mine are dead from doing treework, I don't need anymore bad memories in my head. When I first read the thread there were only a few replies. I was done following for a while. During the interim I spent a bit of time thinking about what might go on in the thread and how I might react. Just now I got caught up on the comments since Sunday night. The themes were like I expected.

After getting caught up I made the decision to remove links to any accident video. There's no reason to host it here. Listen to Steve's comments, he says it better than I can.

 

[Steve Connally]

Your opinion, stated as a fact. Please don't gatekeep how I process and grow from another's tragedy.

I cannot gatekeep you. IMHO means in my opinion. If you wanna watch it, fine. I'll disagree with you emphatically and having come from a career surrounding death and accidents, training and prevention, and the emotional costs of the people who deal with the aftermath, I can say this video provides very little value to learn from IMHO. You can watch anything you want, death, goat yoga, Bob Ross. IMHO This shouldn't be a public video that anyone can access anywhere. This is just my opinion. How you grown is how you grow, I'm asking people to evaluate that from a moral and ethical position and consider the human bashed to death in the video. Thats all. My opinion is not stated as fact, its started as passionately as I can possibly state it.

I'd also like to apologies for my statement about seeing a lot of death. It reads poorly like I'm trying to win some kind of contest. It reads egotistically and arrogantly. It was poorly written and I'm not gonna erase it. I'm just gonna acknowledge it and say I'm sorry. My opinions on this come from a life experience not shared by many in our community.

 

[Steve Connally]

@Shadowscape you are the most unpleasant individual on this forum. From day one you have had a story to top every other person on here. You spew your opinion like anybody gives a shit. You insult people with every post. You have no regard for other people. You viciously attack everyone and have no respect. You are an angry old man who has to yell at the top of your lungs to get attention. At first I thought you had a lot to share on here. I'd rather fail miserably than to listen to anything you had to say. You disrespectful bitter human. You don't know me yet you insult me like you do. You don't know shit about me. I've been on here years and years and years. You don't know what makes me a man or what I'm made of but you spew you insults and say shit you have no rite to say. You sir are a complete piece of work and your ever flowing diatribe of angry bullshit doesn't really deserve my response. If you had asked me any questions like a fucking man with any ouce of respect maybe I'd answer but your sad. A sad old man whop thinks he's really something. I pity you. You're the most opinionated fucker on here but yet as my opinion differs you shout me down and call me Trump. You sir are a child. If you think your time on this earth or your experience gives you the rite to treat people without any ounce of respect you’re mistaken. You accuse me of telling you how to think but that’s every post you make that’s not technical. Just a angry nasty human. You never woulda lasted on the old treebuzz. The guys who were equal to your experience but not assholes woulda thrown you out long ago. Oh well. Here we are. You’re one of those guys who screams respect me respect me that gives no respect to anyone. Your arguments against me are hollow and ignorant. You struggle to construct valid and objective arguments. I’m sorry I’ve allowed you to upset me. You aren’t even worth the response but unfortunately I allowed myself to get sucked in. Keep spewing your ignorance and disrespect eventually people are gonna get sick of your shit. Over 20 years on her and the least respectful interaction with you. Congratulations

 

[Steve Connally]

How can you make that call? And are you sure? Can you be 100% sure that's correct? We all have our own perspectives Steve. You've got yours and it sounds like you got some serious PTSD running bro. You're wearing it like a coat.

God bless you for doing a job that very few have the stomach for. The things you have done, I would and could never do. I can't even give blood. The only time I tried, I almost passed out. The nurse took a look at my face and suggested stopping the draw.

But you can't say that no one can learn or be positively effected from that video. That video could save 10 lives.. maybe nothing for you to learn, after 25 years in the business. But some rookie might see it and think twice before taking a top with a questionable lean, that he's not sure about, or throw a pull line in a wonky top, or decide to come back on a less windy day etc.

That video could save 10 lives.... Maybe someone sees it and says, that's it... I'll find some other way of making a living. And that's what saves his life.

10 years ago I put up a video of someone getting electrocuted on the ground in Brazil. The guy sparked, clenched up, keeled over, and died right there. I used to watch that 10 seconds clip over and over... My roomate at the time accused me of being morbid.... Fuck that... That video keeps me on my toes... When I get around those wires I want to remember just how unforgiving they are... I watched that guy die over and over and over again, so I won't.

I understand what your saying Daniel and I just disagree. I'm not saying it shouldn't be seen. My biggest beef is its public. Its not in private groups, its not like the OP on here did that teed it up with a warning. I'm totally ok with how he posted it not that that matters. I just don't personally see a benefit of this particular video. So many other videos that could articulate the same message. I'm asking do we need to watch death to learn the lesson. Its my opinion. Anything anyone says is opinion unless stated as fact. I never said its fact, Just my opinion so no I cant be 100%. Thanks for not loosing your fucking mind and insulting me like you actually know anything about me. Appreciate you Daniel. I guess with you Brazil example. I've seen it in real life. Don't need to see it again but thats just me........opinions not fact

 

[rico]

It's now 30.5 hours after this thread was started. When the thread was posted I read the accompanying text but knew that I had no reason to watch any video. Five friends of mine are dead from doing treework, I don't need anymore bad memories in my head. When I first read the thread there were only a few replies. I was done following for a while. During the interim I spent a bit of time thinking about what might go on in the thread and how I might react. Just now I got caught up on the comments since Sunday night. The themes were like I expected.

After getting caught up I made the decision to remove links to any accident video. There's no reason to host it here. Listen to Steve's comments, he says it better than I can.

Still have not heard a single person tell us that they learned something that we don't already know.

And to you Tom, my sincere gratitude for removing this vid from TB, but there is still a link in the OP's #1 post.

 

[Mowerr]

Rest in peace brother. thoughts and prayers to the family, friends, crew and first responders

 

[TreeCo]

It's disappointing to see the censoring of the video link and equally disappointing to see those that think that no knowledge is to be gained by watching the video, and that it is only morbid curiosity.

 

[climbhightree]

I believed the video should be available to view, but once I talked privately with another person my opinion has changed somewhat. There are plenty of videos out there of very similar scenarios where the person wasn't obviously killed. We can learn the same things from those videos and experiences, there is no real need for us to watch one involving a gruesome death. Does a death maybe make it more real and impactful, yes probably...but if a near miss doesn't change your method or safety culture will someone's else's death on video do it?

It is a battle between my analytical brain and my human compassion emotional brain.

 

[Steve Connally]

It's disappointing to see the censoring of the video link and equally disappointing to see those that think that no knowledge is to be gained by watching the video, and that it is only morbid curiosity.

Thank you for commenting. I still disagree with you, but we’re both entitled to our own opinions. In case there is a misconception out there, I never called for the center of any of the videos, other than encouraging the people who posted them to take their own video down. I do not condone Moderators or anyone taking videos down just like I didn’t condone the elimination of the conspiracy theory post. I think people have a right to post whatever they want to post. My argument was to passionately ask the people that were posting and reposting that particular video to reconsider their choices. I didn’t report them to Facebook. I didn’t flag it for graphic warning I didn’t do any of that I merely put out information Encouraging people to look at the information that they were posting online in a different context. Voice to text

 

[rico]

Things we learned today-

This is dangerous work, even for trained professionals, so please do not send an unqualified/untrained person aloft to do this work.

Don’t lose tops over backwards.

Don‘t leave fucking stubs, no matter how good of an idea you think it is.

Rescuing an inverted dead body with a heavy top hanging on their neck is not an easy task.

Did I miss anything?

 

[Shadowscape]

@Shadowscape you are the most unpleasant individual on this forum. From day one you have had a story to top every other person on here. You spew your opinion like anybody gives a shit. You insult people with every post. You have no regard for other people. You viciously attack everyone and have no respect. You are an angry old man who has to yell at the top of your lungs to get attention. At first I thought you had a lot to share on here. I'd rather fail miserably than to listen to anything you had to say. You disrespectful bitter human. You don't know me yet you insult me like you do. You don't know shit about me. I've been on here years and years and years. You don't know what makes me a man or what I'm made of but you spew you insults and say shit you have no rite to say. You sir are a complete piece of work and your ever flowing diatribe of angry bullshit doesn't really deserve my response. If you had asked me any questions like a fucking man with any ouce of respect maybe I'd answer but your sad. A sad old man whop thinks he's really something. I pity you. You're the most opinionated fucker on here but yet as my opinion differs you shout me down and call me Trump. You sir are a child. If you think your time on this earth or your experience gives you the rite to treat people without any ounce of respect you’re mistaken. You accuse me of telling you how to think but that’s every post you make that’s not technical. Just a angry nasty human. You never woulda lasted on the old treebuzz. The guys who were equal to your experience but not assholes woulda thrown you out long ago. Oh well. Here we are. You’re one of those guys who screams respect me respect me that gives no respect to anyone. Your arguments against me are hollow and ignorant. You struggle to construct valid and objective arguments. I’m sorry I’ve allowed you to upset me. You aren’t even worth the response but unfortunately I allowed myself to get sucked in. Keep spewing your ignorance and disrespect eventually people are gonna get sick of your shit. Over 20 years on her and the least respectful interaction with you. Congratulations

You are what you hate. A very unhappy person to be sure. Offended by anything you disagree with. Offended when someone points out you are wrong. Offended by this, and that. A snowflake that that gets offended by everything around him. Then you hit me with this rant. Same thing you accuse me of doing.
So, you been here a long time. Good for you. But go live your life the way you want and quit trying to get other people to do as you.
I pointed out once that you didn't know what you were talking about, and ever since then you have taken a jab at me in every post you made. Fuck you, Steve.
On the worth scale I rate you near zero as a human being.

@rico If you refuse to watch that video, I wouldn't be making comments as to what was learned from it.

 

[Bucknut]

Fuck you, Steve.
On the worth scale I rate you near zero as a human being.

Gosh, I can’t help but think this might be a slight overreaction.

As usual, you beclown yourself. Quite the keyboard commando. If you only realized how much of your character you just revealed you might be embarrassed. But probably not.

 

[Stumpsprouts]

You are what you hate. A very unhappy person to be sure. Offended by anything you disagree with. Offended when someone points out you are wrong. Offended by this, and that. A snowflake that that gets offended by everything around him. Then you hit me with this rant. Same thing you accuse me of doing.
So, you been here a long time. Good for you. But go live your life the way you want and quit trying to get other people to do as you.
I pointed out once that you didn't know what you were talking about, and ever since then you have taken a jab at me in every post you made. Fuck you, Steve.
On the worth scale I rate you near zero as a human being.

@rico If you refuse to watch that video, I wouldn't be making comments as to what was learned from it.

you lost any credibility with this reader. I thought you were intelligent.

 

[Daniel]

Still have not heard a single person tell us that they learned something that we don't already know.

aerial rescue should be practiced with an inverted dummy...

When there is no chance of surviving an aerial rescue, (e. suffocation under palm fronds or bleeding out, or in this case being chocked by a 500 lb limb) a competent faller can consider the possibility of dropping the tree from the base if that can be done without risking injury to others in order to expedite medical treatment

 

[Steve Connally]

You sir no nothing of my metal as a man. I served my country in war time for 2 enlistments. I served my community for 30 years doing shit many people cannot. I endured the death of a wife and a child. I raised a living child through that experience. I've been injured, burned, broken, fought and survived. I treat others with the respect they deserve. I don't pick fights. I don't even know when you proved me wrong but I avoid you because I see no value in sparring with you. You are in a pack mentality. You prance around here like a wolf in a pack. You snap and snarl at anyone you see as a less Alpha. You tuck tail and cower to guys like Rico. You jump on Daniel like you're part of the pack. You kiss Rico's ass but call me out for the same opinion. Do not take my quietness and respect for others as a weakness. I have quite a strong bite. I have been here long enough to prove myself and owe you nothing. You know nothing of me, you've proved only that you are an outsider and have to punch your way into the fold and intimidate anyone who counters your opinion. Unfortunately you suffer from such a deep seated ignorance that you're unable to hear my message. You hear what you want to hear. I'm calling people to consider another view point, not anything else. Your arguments are hollow and your low intellect shows clear as day by having to tell me to fuck off and calling me invaluable as a human. Show me where I stab at you on every post. This behaviors no place on this site. This is not a place to treat people in such a way. If your opinion of my worth had any value to me I would consider how I've lived my life. However, I have contributed respectfully and without seeking acknowledgment quite a bit to the industry over the years. I challenge you or anyone on here to show me where I've ever treated anyone with an ounce of disrespect or shouted them down for their opinion. You know nothing about me. You only assume, unwilling to see anything that might put a ripple in that little pond you swim in as the big fish. I have met many great men and you are the antithesis of that. I will not stoop to you level. You have shown your salt as a man and this water will seek its own level.

 

[Steve Connally]

aerial rescue should be practiced with an inverted dummy...

Bunch of classes I've done an attended do this and teach techniques like using the lanyard over the shoulder to bring the patient supine.

 

[Tom Dunlap]

This is Awakenings. NOT a place for bickering and poking at each other. If you feel the need to bicker do it in a Conversation/DM, etc.

Its disrespectful of what Awakenings is all about.

 

[Steve Connally]

Can we look at another video as an example? There is a video out there of a crane coming over and striking the climber. No additional details but likely he died. Is there value in seeing the boom actually striking the climber and killing him? Do we need to see the impact of the steel on his body? It's rhetorical but this is the question I'm encouraging people to ask before the post or share that stuff on an open forum for all to see. Like I said before, the way the video was posted on here.....I didn't have an issue with and never said I did. I was given the ability by the OP to avoid it with a stern warning. I had a choice to not look. On an open FB, not a private group I was half in to the video before I realized what I was seeing. It was too late for me then. Like I said, not censorship but discretion. I would also like to ask how many SEALS Spec Ops guys watch videos of their colleagues getting killed for training and are ok with that being in the general public? How may skydivers watch those videos that focus on the body impact to the ground? What do they learn from the bounce? What does the SEAL learn from the red mist or the flying leg? Im not asking you to change, just think about it and if you still disagree then we disagree. Nothing more to that. Our differing opinion does not equate to the value I think you have as a human. Thats just not normal.

 

[Recon]

There is a difference between cutting your own limb and running a business of cutting other people's limbs. Changing your own brakes and being in the business of changing other people's brakes. With any business there comes a responsibility of knowledge and safety to protect the employees and customers from injury or damage.
I'm not for overregulating, but if you are going to run a business where people can be injured or killed by what you are asking them to do, then some regulations need to be in place to protect those individuals. Training and the use of proper equipment to keep those individuals safe needs to be a must. It is obvious in this video the company provided none of the above.

"if you crave respect for your work then become a nurse or policeman" Sorry my friend, those days are over it seems. At least here in the States.

Agree. I'm new to the game, I started tree work 1.5 years ago. Before I started doing work for even friends and family, I spent a significant amount of time in training. Spent a small fortune for it ($5-7k), then opened up a small LLC. I still bounce stuff off my mentor almost daily.

I can honestly say I would have been in bad spots without that training.

 

[rico]

@rico If you refuse to watch that video, I wouldn't be making comments as to what was learned from it.

I simply compiled a list of what folks here have had to say about the incident. If I missed anything, or if you have some knowledge gleaned from viewing the vid then please share it with us.