http://www.wivb.com/dpp/news/tree_cutter_falls_to_death_on_job_090320
GRAND ISLAND, N.Y. (WIVB) - A freak accident leaves one man dead in Grand Island.
Three workers from TK Tree Service in Youngstown were taking down a tree on Amberwood Drive on Grand Island just before 10:00 Friday morning.
Kris Wolf, her husband, and three sons were watching them work in her next door neighbor's backyard.
Two workers were at the base. One was about 40 feet up in the tree.
The Wolfs watched as the rotting tree broke off at the base.
Kris Wolf said, "They had some ropes, they were holding onto it. I don't think they realized the whole tree was going to tip from the bottom. He was cutting a part of the trunk at the top and I think they expected that to go and for whatever reason the whole tree just went."
Wolf's husband called 9-1-1.
Wolf is a registered nurse at Kenmore Mercy Hospital. She went out to perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation on the victim until paramedics arrived.
Grand Island Fire Chief Greg Butcher said, "First arriving units arrived to discover a tree trimming individual working for a company that fell from a tree."
Paramedics continued CPR in the ambulance.
The worker, 28-year-old John West of Lockport was pronounced dead on arrival at Kenmore Mercy Hospital.
Sheriff's investigators say in addition to striking the ground after the fall, the tree also rolled on top of him. West was wearing a protective safety harness and strapped to the tree.
Kris Wolf said, "I thought, it didn't seem from a distance that he hit that hard, so when we got there I was just very surprised that he was in the shape that he was in."
Sheriff's investigators say the victim suffered head trauma and internal injuries.
Neighbors and paramedics commend Wolf for trying to help the victim.
GRAND ISLAND, N.Y. (WIVB) - A freak accident leaves one man dead in Grand Island.
Three workers from TK Tree Service in Youngstown were taking down a tree on Amberwood Drive on Grand Island just before 10:00 Friday morning.
Kris Wolf, her husband, and three sons were watching them work in her next door neighbor's backyard.
Two workers were at the base. One was about 40 feet up in the tree.
The Wolfs watched as the rotting tree broke off at the base.
Kris Wolf said, "They had some ropes, they were holding onto it. I don't think they realized the whole tree was going to tip from the bottom. He was cutting a part of the trunk at the top and I think they expected that to go and for whatever reason the whole tree just went."
Wolf's husband called 9-1-1.
Wolf is a registered nurse at Kenmore Mercy Hospital. She went out to perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation on the victim until paramedics arrived.
Grand Island Fire Chief Greg Butcher said, "First arriving units arrived to discover a tree trimming individual working for a company that fell from a tree."
Paramedics continued CPR in the ambulance.
The worker, 28-year-old John West of Lockport was pronounced dead on arrival at Kenmore Mercy Hospital.
Sheriff's investigators say in addition to striking the ground after the fall, the tree also rolled on top of him. West was wearing a protective safety harness and strapped to the tree.
Kris Wolf said, "I thought, it didn't seem from a distance that he hit that hard, so when we got there I was just very surprised that he was in the shape that he was in."
Sheriff's investigators say the victim suffered head trauma and internal injuries.
Neighbors and paramedics commend Wolf for trying to help the victim.
