Arborist rescued after being pinned to tree in Clayton County

The man had been struck in the tree for about a half-hour before 911 was called.

Credit: Clayton County Police Department

Credit: Clayton County Police Department

The man had been struck in the tree for about a half-hour before 911 was called.

An arborist who was trimming branches behind a Clayton County home got more than he bargained for Wednesday when a rope holding up a large limb pinned him to the tree for more than a half-hour.

Officers responded to the 8600 block of Shoreline Drive near Lake Spivey and were quickly directed to the home’s backyard, where they found the man suspended in the tree, Clayton police said in a Facebook post.

***Clayton County Police Officers Help Pinned Arborist Suspended in Tree*** On November 4, 2020, Clayton County Police...

Posted by Clayton County Police Department on Thursday, November 5, 2020

Police said the tree-trimmer was pinned from his ankle to his torso and unable to free himself from the steel rope, which was held tight by a large limb that had broken off. Officers rushed to a neighbor’s home and grabbed two ladders before working to free the man, authorities said.

“One ladder was used to gain access to the steel, reinforced rope, so it could be cut with bolt cutters," the post said. "The second ladder was used to gain access to the arborist so when the steel rope was cut, he would not fall and further injure himself.”

Clayton County EMTs arrived at the scene and were able to bring the injured man down after the rope was cut. Authorities learned he had been stuck in the tree for about 30 minutes before 911 was called.

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