20.08.2013

Tree man electrocuted

A man working from an aerial lift died yesterday in Holliston, near Boston, Massachusetts after he touched overhead power lines

The man, Ryan Hopkins, 26, was working for local company Ahronian Landscape & Design, where he had worked for 10 years, and was using a Niftylift TD120-T/TD34T tracked type spider lift and an pole mounted chain saw to cut the tree branches back from the power lines.

He was around six metres up, when his saw touched a high voltage cable, giving him severe burns over 90 percent of his body. Fire fighters were able to push the lift away from the wires with a truck and were then able to rescue him.
Please register to see all images

The lift from which the man was working

He was taken to hospital where he later died from his injuries, OSHA is investigating the incident