A Colchester cyclist who was riding home from work yesterday had to be cut free by firefighters after a half-tonne branch of a tree fell on him, with one rescuer saying that the rider was just “an inch or two” from being killed.
The middle-aged man, who has not yet been named, was cycling along a footpath off Cowdray Avenue when the branch fell, pinning him underneath, reports the East Anglia Daily Times.
The newspaper reports that firefighters stabilised the tree to allow the man to be treated by paramedics while they used heavy equipment and a handsaw to cut him free.
The operation was completed shortly after 8pm and was taken to hospital by ambulance.
A spokesman for East of England Ambulance said: "An ambulance and an ambulance officer attended the incident and assessed the man, who we believe is in his forties.
"He suffered back, chest, arm, and head injuries and was taken to Colchester General Hospital for emergency treatment."
“The man was cycling home from work when about half a tonne of branch - the width of an average man - fell 15-20 feet down on him from a huge tree about 50-60 feet high.
“An inch or two either way and it would have killed him but fortunately the bike took the impact and the frame was crushed while he was thrown slightly off, ending up trapped under the branch and suffering quite significant injuries.
“Ambulance paramedics stabilised him and he was conscious while we worked to cut him free. Once released, he was taken to hospital.
“There was no significant weather that would explain why the branch fell at that moment - it looks like it may have been rotten so police have cordoned off the area and we have asked Colchester Council to take over to ensure there is no further danger to people using the footpath,” he added.
Police at the scene cordoned off the footpath while the council takes the necessary action.
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7 comments
He didn't respect the tree enough obviously.
Lucky escape though. Has anyone asked him for some lotto numbers for the weekend yet?
No hi vis? Then according to H & S Directive ISO9001 section 6.3.2 they would of dressed him in hi vis before attempting to free him.
Really can't decide whether this bloke is lucky or unlucky, just hope he makes a full recovery.
Just out of interest was the headline in the Daily Mail "Cycling Yob damages historic tree" or "Selfish Lycra Lout holds up Traffic"?
Was he wearing a helmet and Hi-Vis?
Know the route well as I use it many times, hope the cyclist has a speedy recovery & no more incidents like this.
"Cyclists, Beware of passing this tree on the underside"
no significant weather? The day before it had been howling a gale... that would have weakened it significantly and yesterday the wind was still pretty strong... 30 mph steady for me gusting to 40 mph... force 6 gusting force 7 and the day before it was even worse...