Arborist Death, Atlanta GA

[TreeCo]

This happened on Saturday I believe. I don't have any other details. This was cut and pasted from the Atlanta Journal Constitution. The accident occured in Atlanta.
Dan
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Limb falls, kills tree cutter

A tree cutter working near the top of a tall pine on Buckhead's Habersham Road was killed by a falling limb Saturday and dangled around 80 feet above the ground about two and a half hours before he was reached by a firefighter.

Donnie Hudgens showed no signs of life when lowered to the ground around 2:30 p.m., said Atlanta fire Capt. Ken Byers.

Fire Department spokeswoman Jolene Butts-Freeman said Hudgens was cutting limbs near the top of the pine behind a house in the 3300 block of Habersham Road off West Paces Ferry Road when the accident occurred shortly before noon Saturday.

"It appears to be a freak accident, that the limb fell in a different direction than it was supposed to," Butts-Freeman said.

Byers said firefighter Chris Coons reached Hudgens on the boom of a private company "cherry picker" truck, and fastened a harness around the worker. "Chris checked for vital signs and got no response," he added. An autopsy will be performed by the Fulton County Medical Examiner to determine cause of death.

 

[joe]

Things like this shouldn't happen.

Are you guys paying attention to the physics being posted at these types of discussion groups? Do you understand it? When you don't understand something, do you ask for help?

A guy died because he didn't see something he most likely was able to see. I wouldn't consider accidents like the 1 posted a freak accident. He probably screwed up somewhere. Most likely, a cut and hope situation.

Joe

 

[Kevin]

Sounds like he may have been below the cut, maybe the wind played a part in it.
Hope we can get a little more information for the sake of prevention.