Chamberlain Tree Felling Incident 2016

The sawyer identified a Gambel oak tree that was in the path of the snag’s intended direction of fall. Due to the small size of this oak and its distance from the snag, it was determined that the larger snag would fall through the oak and not hang up. As the cut snag was falling, it hung up on the oak, causing the oak to bend under extreme tension until it was nearly touching the ground. The sawyer considered cutting the oak tree using relief cuts, but determined that it was safer to cut out sections of the snag to gradually release tension from the oak. The sawyer successfully removed several sections from the base of the snag with little or no change to the oak tree’s tension. When removing the snag’s next section, there was a sudden and unexpected release of tension from the oak tree. The tree rebounded to its natural vertical position, pulling with it the remaining 36 feet of the snag. This action pulled the snag away from the sawyer, standing the snag up to a nearly perpendicular position to the ground. Next, the snag began to fall back toward the sawyer. The sawyer quickly reevaluated his escape route. He planned to use the oak tree for cover while he watched the snag fall to the ground. As the snag impacted the ground, a 14-foot long, three-inch diameter branch (60 pounds) fell from the oak and impacted the sawyer on the back of his helmet.

After consultation with a Phoenix-area neurologist, it was determined that the sawyer should be transported by ground ambulance to the Scottsdale-Osborn Medical Center. Upon arrival at this medical facility, the sawyer received an MRI, which revealed a fractured vertebra in the neck. The sawyer was admitted to the ICU where he remained until discharged 36 hours after his arrival.

Project Work, Chainsaws, Medevac, Hit by Tree