Pay close attention to the last paragraph in the article...
http://toronto.ctv.ca/servlet/an/local/C...=TorontoNewHome
Updated: Sun Mar. 15 2009 2:27:45 PM
The Canadian Press
SAULT STE. MARIE, Ont. — A Sault Ste. Marie man is recovering from minor injuries after a bizarre accident that left him hanging upside down from a tree he was trying to prune.
Neighbours were startled when they heard his screams Saturday morning and went outside to find him dangling from a tree in his backyard.
The man was cutting down a nine-metre branch near the top of the tree, which had been damaged by heavy winds earlier in the week.
When it was cut, the heavy branch fell on top of him and jammed his legs against the tree, leaving him dangling in pain about three metres in the air.
Paramedics were first on the scene but they couldn't free the middle-aged man, and he remained trapped until firefighters arrived.
The man was taken to hospital with minor injuries, including a hurt shoulder.
But fire Capt. Damon Ferris said it could have been far worse had the man fallen.
"It wasn't a pretty landing spot where he would have landed," said Ferris, adding the man could have broken bones or suffered head and neck injuries.
"He's pretty fortunate, actually."
The fire department's advice to others considering the same type of tree maintenance -- consider hiring a professional.
"Sometimes it might be better to employ someone that's skilled in that area (rather) then to try and tackle something like that and expose yourself to that danger," said Ferris.
http://toronto.ctv.ca/servlet/an/local/C...=TorontoNewHome
Updated: Sun Mar. 15 2009 2:27:45 PM
The Canadian Press
SAULT STE. MARIE, Ont. — A Sault Ste. Marie man is recovering from minor injuries after a bizarre accident that left him hanging upside down from a tree he was trying to prune.
Neighbours were startled when they heard his screams Saturday morning and went outside to find him dangling from a tree in his backyard.
The man was cutting down a nine-metre branch near the top of the tree, which had been damaged by heavy winds earlier in the week.
When it was cut, the heavy branch fell on top of him and jammed his legs against the tree, leaving him dangling in pain about three metres in the air.
Paramedics were first on the scene but they couldn't free the middle-aged man, and he remained trapped until firefighters arrived.
The man was taken to hospital with minor injuries, including a hurt shoulder.
But fire Capt. Damon Ferris said it could have been far worse had the man fallen.
"It wasn't a pretty landing spot where he would have landed," said Ferris, adding the man could have broken bones or suffered head and neck injuries.
"He's pretty fortunate, actually."
The fire department's advice to others considering the same type of tree maintenance -- consider hiring a professional.
"Sometimes it might be better to employ someone that's skilled in that area (rather) then to try and tackle something like that and expose yourself to that danger," said Ferris.
