Firefighters Rescue Injured Man from Tree in Mountlake Terrace

Firefighters rescued a tree trimmer who was stuck about 30 feet up in a tree after he was injured by a falling limb in Mountlake Terrace this afternoon.

The man in his mid-30s was cutting limbs from a tree in the backyard of a home in the 22200 block of 38th Ave. W when he was struck by a falling limb and knocked unconscious around 4:45 p.m. “Neighbors were watching him work and called 9-1-1,” said Leslie Hynes, public information officer for Snohomish County Fire District 1.

The neighbors told firefighters the limb the man was cutting came loose, swung around and slammed him into the tree trunk, then they saw the man’s body go limp. He regained consciousness, but was injured and stuck about 30 feet up the tree, where he was secured with a rope system.

“Our technical rescue team and ladder truck responded to assist the engine company from Mountlake Terrace Fire Station 19,” Hynes said.

Firefighters positioned the ladder truck at an angle to reach the man. The man was able to walk down the ladder with assistance from firefighters. He was transported by paramedics to Harborview Medical Center. His injuries were serious, but did not appear to be life-threatening.

--Information from Snohomish County Fire District 1