Trapped by tree for seven hours

Trapped by tree for seven hours

29 October 2014

AN elderly farmer spent over seven hours trapped by a fallen tree on Monday before emergency workers rushed to his aid.

The man became trapped by the tree as he chopped firewood on a farm at Killyleagh Road, Crossgar, early on Monday afternoon.

Emergency services were only alerted to the accident at 7.39pm, more than seven hours after the tree had fallen, and a special rescue team was tasked from Belfast.

Fire and Rescue, ambulance crews and PSNI officers rushed to the area where they were directed to the scene of the accident by anxious neighbours. Crews gained access to the site across open fields.

The man was reported to be conscious when help arrived and confirmed he had been trapped since 12:30pm when he had been cutting firewood.

Paramedics from Downpatrick and two doctors worked for over an hour before allowing Fire Service officials to lift the tree and release him.

The Fire Service used a heavy winch and wedges to stabilise the tree and prevent slippage before high pressure air mats were used to lift it. Fire Service officials then helped medics move the casualty onto a special stretcher designed for rough ground.

The injured man was further stabilised before being transferred to hospital.

Local Fire Service commander, James J. McAllister, has warned lone rural workers to take extra care following the accident, which he said had demonstrated the ability of the three rescue agencies to work together to rescue a trapped person and give the best possible chance of survival and recovery.

“I wish to appeal to the community living and working in the rural environment to take precautions when working alone,” he said.

“Always inform someone where you are and what you are doing.

“Make regular contact with that person so that they can raise the alarm if there is a failure to make contact. This can be done using a mobile telephone or a two way radio.”

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) yesterday confirmed it is investigating an incident involving a farmer who was injured during tree-cutting work on the Crossgar farm.

The incident is the second such accident in the area in recent weeks after a man was pinned to the ground by a tree he had been cutting near Clough. He had a mobile phone in his pocket and was able to raise the alarm.