25.09.2017

Another tree care fatality

A man died yesterday in Sarasota, Florida, after he touched a live overhead power line while trimming trees from a bucket truck.

The incident occurred at Siesta Key when the man was cutting low hanging branches from trees damaged by Hurricane Irma. Sarasota County Emergency Services were quickly on the scene, but had to wait for Florida Power & Light to arrive and de-energise the power line. The man was declared dead shortly after he was brought down from the platform. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration has launched an investigation.
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Emergency services at the scene

This is apparently the second power line incident in Southwest Florida since Irma hit, a man - Tracy Slaugenhaupt, 53, of West Penn Power - was helping restore power in Englewood when he was shocked after contacting a live power line last Wednesday. He was airlifted to hospital and remains in critical condition following surgery.