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Posted on 04/25/2026 5:25:48 AM PDT by DFG
An unconscious tree trimmer stranded high above a San Jose neighborhood was dramatically airlifted to safety Friday after suffering a medical emergency while working roughly 75 feet up a palm tree.
Emergency crews rushed to the 2900 block of Sunburst Drive around 10 a.m., where the worker had become incapacitated while cutting the tree, according to the San Jose Fire Department.
Initial attempts to reach him from the ground failed due to the height and distance from the street.
With time critical, officials called in a Cal Fire helicopter to execute a rare aerial extraction.
The operation proved difficult, taking more than an hour to safely remove the worker from the towering palm.
“This is the first time they have done an aerial pick off of a tree of this type. We are typically able to gain access from our aerial apparatus so this is a unique event,” Assistant Fire Chief James Dobson told ABC7.
Rescuers ultimately cut the man free and lowered him carefully to the ground.
Video released by the fire department captured the tense moments as the limp, comatose worker was hoisted from the swaying tree and brought to safety.
Authorities said he was conscious during transport but in serious condition.
(Excerpt) Read more at nypost.com ...
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I don’t know what happened up there. But it looks like the trimmer has some broken fingers…? Maybe he cut himself and fainted at the sight or loss of blood…?
The saw is still in the cut.
I assumed the swaying tree had knocked him out but it does look like he cut some of his fingers off one handing the saw.
Poor guy probably went straight into shock 75 ft.up.
Ouch!
Happy the poor man did not fall.
Helicopter rescue can be VERY expensive however there is one air rescue helicopter crew that NEVER charges the rescuee:
It’s called Two Bear Air Rescue
https://www.twobearairrescue.org
The typical helicopter air ambulance costs around $6 million but the Two Bear helicopter is around $12 million. Why? It has two turbofan engines and is rated for flight rescue altitude of 11,000 feet and is equipped with massive amounts of technology and FLIR capabilities.
Thank you to Whitefish philanthropist Michael Goguen supports all costs of this program.
Those palm trees are treacherous.
I have to wonder how many other countries would have left the the guy up there. Iran for sure. (Fillintheblank)istan. Mexico probably. Hope the guy is ok. Maybe he’ll get a Zoom interview from his hospital bed from some news network.
That’s why I don’t climb palm trees with chain saws.
“Initial attempts to reach him from the ground failed due to the height and distance from the street.”
What’s the difference? I would think the distance from the street and the height would be the same. I guess it is different depending on which side of the pole the guy was on.
wy69
Looks more like his glove is partially off.
Is that for real?
Perhaps the ‘distance from the street’ is about how close horizontally the equipment could get to the base of the tree as if the equipment was ‘street bound.’
Do you climb other trees with chain saws?
Last summer we had to take down 2 trees, opposite sides of our house, and each of them were 110-120’ high. One was a dying hickory (179 years old, I personally counted the rings), and the other was a dying tulip poplar. We had to hire specialists for each. Broke the cable on one truck when it got to 127’ extension. That guy brought in another specialist who used a boom with a grappler and a chainsaw that was remotely operated. Coolest thing ever, but everyone on the ground had to be very careful. Hard hats don’t mean a thing when you’re talking about heavy trees.
My Mother was born in Whitefish. Family still lives in nearby Columbia Falls. Beautiful country!
Cutting the tree down wasn’t the best option then.
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