Fir Kills Tree Surgeon
2003 Reader Submission
Pending Acceptance
A tree surgeon has died after a fir tree he was tending burst into flames.
The 28-year-old man was lopping branches and throwing them on to a small fire below which suddenly engulfed the tree.
Firefighters were called to an address in Rothbury, Northumberland at about 08.50 BST on Friday.
A Northumbria Fire and Rescue Service spokeswoman said: "One of the branches appears to have hit the fire and become propped against the tree, which caused it to burst into flames quite quickly."
'Tragic accident'
It appeared the tree surgeon, who has been named as Richard Coates, of Corbridge, Northumberland. was wearing a harness attached to the tree, but he was found on the ground.
A Health and Safety Executive investigation is underway.
Inspector Tim Walker from Northumbria Police said: "At this stage there are no suspicious circumstances.
"On the face of it, it was a tragic accident."
Submitted on 06/15/2002
Submitted by:
ike Thornbury
Reference:
BBC News 15th June 2002
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