http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/scotti...86908-21441916/
A YOUNG man was killed when he plunged 30ft from a cherry-picker as he pruned trees.
Daniel Meehan, 28, was working on the machine's extendable platform when it overturned on a steep driveway.
He was crushed under the machine and died almost instantly.
Neil Pickthall, 37, was trapped inside the cab of the machine and suffered serious injuries while his father Jack, who owned the property where the tragedy happened and was also in the cab, managed to scramble free.
It took firefighters nearly an hour to free Neil, whose injuries included a broken leg and arm.
He was taken by air ambulance from the scene in Laurieston Road, Gatehouse of Fleet, to Dumfries and Galloway Royal Infirmary.
Fire station officer Kenneth Clark said: "It appears the vehicle overturned in the driveway and the dead man was trapped. He had been on the platform.
"It was a traumatic time for the firefighters, who were quickly on the scene, because most of them knew the men involved."
The men had been pruning large fir trees in the garden of Jack Pickthall's home when the accident happened.
George Brookshaw, 83, who lives next to the Pickthall house in the exclusive area, said: "The trees had overgrown and my neighbour wanted them lopped.
"I gave the lads permission to come on to my land so they could get access to do the job.
"I saw them working on a high platform."
Daniel lived in Gatehouse of Fleet and was engaged to be married to girlfriend Annika Jardine.
Their families issued a statement last night thanking locals for their support following the tragic accident on Saturday.
It read: "The family of Daniel Meehan would like to take this opportunity to thank family, friends and members of the local community for their expression of support during such a difficult time.
"Both families would like privacy to grieve for their loss of an honest, kind young man who endeavoured to help and befriend all those within his reach."
Neil Pickthall, who is well known locally and a former footballer with amateur side Fleet Star, was said to be in a serious but stable condition yesterday.
His building contractor father, who played football for many clubs in the south of Scotland in his youth, declined to comment last night.
A YOUNG man was killed when he plunged 30ft from a cherry-picker as he pruned trees.
Daniel Meehan, 28, was working on the machine's extendable platform when it overturned on a steep driveway.
He was crushed under the machine and died almost instantly.
Neil Pickthall, 37, was trapped inside the cab of the machine and suffered serious injuries while his father Jack, who owned the property where the tragedy happened and was also in the cab, managed to scramble free.
It took firefighters nearly an hour to free Neil, whose injuries included a broken leg and arm.
He was taken by air ambulance from the scene in Laurieston Road, Gatehouse of Fleet, to Dumfries and Galloway Royal Infirmary.
Fire station officer Kenneth Clark said: "It appears the vehicle overturned in the driveway and the dead man was trapped. He had been on the platform.
"It was a traumatic time for the firefighters, who were quickly on the scene, because most of them knew the men involved."
The men had been pruning large fir trees in the garden of Jack Pickthall's home when the accident happened.
George Brookshaw, 83, who lives next to the Pickthall house in the exclusive area, said: "The trees had overgrown and my neighbour wanted them lopped.
"I gave the lads permission to come on to my land so they could get access to do the job.
"I saw them working on a high platform."
Daniel lived in Gatehouse of Fleet and was engaged to be married to girlfriend Annika Jardine.
Their families issued a statement last night thanking locals for their support following the tragic accident on Saturday.
It read: "The family of Daniel Meehan would like to take this opportunity to thank family, friends and members of the local community for their expression of support during such a difficult time.
"Both families would like privacy to grieve for their loss of an honest, kind young man who endeavoured to help and befriend all those within his reach."
Neil Pickthall, who is well known locally and a former footballer with amateur side Fleet Star, was said to be in a serious but stable condition yesterday.
His building contractor father, who played football for many clubs in the south of Scotland in his youth, declined to comment last night.
