I made exactly the same mistake this time last year. Last cut of an exhausting rainy day. Left climbing system in crown after tying in a pull line, came down, secured wire core lanyard and made the face cuts perfectly (which is a little unusual). Had the boys pull hard on the 30-foot cedar top to make sure it made it to the drop zone. I didn't notice anything wrong until I came to rest pinned to the trunk under my rope, still suspending the whole top from my climbing bridge and lanyard. Too heavy to wriggle out from under, had to cut my climbing line with my electric saw to get free. The boys helped to lower me with an adjacent rigging rope. A year on from the accident, Bodys about 90% healed up, confidence less so. Still love climbing and will continue until i can't do it anymore. Cutting on the trunk with a climbing system attached is a very questionable habit, and not one that I use anymore. If I'm that tired or uncomfortable, then it's time to just descend and take a break or call it for the day. Fatigue is a killer. Distraction is a killer. Urgency is a killer. Complacency and arrogance too, in my situation. I hope that no one else has to go through that terror.

As a competent person in various construction trades, watching near misses and actual accidents is vital for awareness training and training to mitigate future/repeated job site mishaps. Thank you for showing the clip uncensored.

I've done something similar. I was doing a dismantle of a very large horse chestnut in a grave yard, I had been rigging every piece down for around 4 days. On the last limb I forgot to untie my line, when I did the back cut and it started to fall I looked up and saw I was still attached to it. I was very lucky that the way the limb went resulted in my climbing line going over a union at the top of the stem. Somehow I managed to react quickly enough to shout "don't let it run", hold my zigzag open and brace on my lanyard and spikes. Enough of my climbing line ran through the device so I wasn't pulled out of the tree before the rigging line caught it. When I then shouted to the ground crew not to lower it, the conversation went as followed: "Don't lower it yet!!!!" "Why the f#+k not?!" "Because I'm still attached to it!!" "You Fu_)#+g idiot!!" I was very lucky, the limb was big and had I not noticed what was about to happen and reacted quick enough I would probably have been ripped in half. Thanks for sharing Dan

I know a guy who more or less stopped climbing after almost doing this. He was taking the top of a big adler still tied in, I was on the ground, noticed it and started shouting and jumping around trying to get his attention. He didn't hear or notice me because the petrol saw was being loud. Fortunately he noticed it himself in the last minute so nothing happened. But he was really shook up after it. Probably the worst would have happened if he'd drop the piece. There is also where battery saws bring so much safety to the work. They are silent when not cutting, so hearing the groundie shout is so much easier. Also now a lot of crews are starting to run some kind of com system, which increases safety so much. The easiest and most affordable one is just a normal bluetooth ear bud and the keep a whatsapp group call open all day long! No need to shout and you can get the crews attention immediately!

I’ve made it a habit to always pull my line out before making a face cut. Glad to hear the guy survived.

Great learning opportunity. Thanks. I’m an old veteran tree climber and this has always been my greatest fear. Be patient out there folks.

I've stopped 2 climbers from doing this, one was even full of abuse and attitude about why did I stop him. It's bloody scary!

I almost did that, but just with a 4 or 5 foot length of 18 inch diameter stem. Was getting tired after several hours in the tree and left myself tied in above the cut and was starting back cut. Luckily my groundie was alert and started flailing the rigging line to get my attention. Ill always be grateful to him. Probably saved me from some broken ribs.

It’s tempting, for security feeling and sake, to do a face cut while still cinch attached above. This is a terrible habit that a lot of arborists do. I’m lucky that I established a routine to move my cinch after I descend. This is an example of complete complacency and getting in a hurry. Additionally it looks like he has a small barber chair and he does cut through his hinge on the far side.

Wished I'd seen videos like this. Seen one August huneiki about this danger unfortunately I had just did this very thing and was fresh out of the hospital. Took a big lemon eucalyptus top after lowering all limbs then decided to use lowering line to pull top. Made face cut then forgot my line and made back cut. I was wondering why I was being violently ripped against the trunk then stripped down the tree until my old-school totline burned through and top made it to the ground. Broken sternum 4 Broken ribs and lacerated liver. Bruised lungs, Bruised kidney. 35 years experience and still happened. I still am trying to forgive myself. Still doing heavy removals and big jobs like it never happened a year later. Be careful please. Slow down and enjoy your work.

In 2003 I was taking out a double top poplar. Pulling over a fence into a parking lot. One off no problem The other top went up, tied it in repelled down 40ft Bucked in Made the face cut. Threw the chain on the last cut. Tool came up set up, reset the chain across the lanyard. Saw my climbing rope in front of me....followed the rope up and up and up! Yeap still tied in. Asked grounds guy if he saw it too. Nope. I'd throw a chain perhaps...once in 2 or 3000 cuts God intervened that day. He wouldn't rescind the law if gravity for me He did the next best thing, and maintained His anonymity.

I did this when I first started climbing. It was either my first or second tree removal. Luckily, for some reason, the piece did not fall. I believe I was doing a snap cut rather than face and back. My groundie called attention to it and likely saved my life. I was exhausted at the end of the day and not paying enough attention. That was the last cut that day to say the least.

Thanks Dan👋 I see a lot of new climbers who see other folks running up and down trees trying to be the hottest thing on KZfaq and are setting themselves and others who follow them up for some bad accidents. Glad you ran across this and took the time to share it. Injuries and property damage are hard on families and companies alike. Speed competition climbing should be replaced by safe decision making in picking tie in points and actual trim or removal strategies to be productive but with emphasis on safety 100%. Not risky cuts or maneuvers. Thanks again.

Good Lord that looked brutal... this is the kind of thing ALL TRADES need to see regularly. I'm a former oilfield mechanic, but there are still lessons to be learned here for me even if the only tree work I do is light duty occasional pruning. Got hit with a 22ft dead ash branch from 18ft a few months ago by just being in the wrong place at exactly the right time... totally changed the way I look at the hazards of your craft. Luckily walked away... but just barely.

Enjoyed the video. Excellent presentation of a serious potential life robbing situation. I have to admit I came close on this once. I make an effort to keep my ground person(s) attentive and engaged with the work...including my work above, at all times. I tell them to keep an eye on me when they are standing and waiting on me. I tell them to glance around the site, checking for developing problems (ex. people encroaching on the work area). One of my groundies (mate as you would call him) did see my impending doom (climb line still at top of 6' stem I was bout to cut) and got my attention and saved my hide. Thanks for sharing this...a real service to the community at large. Pay attention out there you all!

Very easy to do this when rushing. Cheers for taking the time to discuss.

I almost did this when I was new to climbing and it made a large impact on my line management and awareness especially when your chunking down the main wood. Very scary

Unless it’s a homeowner or someone not in the industry, one has to wonder why the person filming this didn’t notice the mistake and alert him immediately!

I did this once, but fortunately with a smaller chunk, and I had left some branches below me. I got dragged about 12 ft down the tree where the chunk got hung up. Pure luck I didn't get hurt. Always check everything three times and never rush. If there's someone rushing you, quit. It's not worth your life.

Ground has helped me catch crossings ropes or untensioned systems due to a stub I couldn’t see. We all in it together

Lucky to be alive. That second to check connect and the ground. Love what you do. Been watching you from the beginning. Love the knowledge and your ability to convey it to us. Glad u found your middle ground.

This is why I love having comms!

No matter what size of the stem, i do not ever stay tied in to make a face cut

Thanks Dan! 👍

Thanks Dan you do great job on trees and divulgation. Work safe to everybody

Thank you for this important warning. I do dumb stuff when I'm tired, especially if I have a few groundsmen waiting below.

This is why I think it is vitally important to have a routine order to how you do things…doesn’t matter what the details are, just so you can run down your own mental checklist every time. Flipline clipped in?…check. Rope retrieved and reset?…check. Drop area clear?…check. Face cut in?…check. Everything all set?…check. Everything all set again?…double check. Being too “comfortable” or “confident” can lead to disasters. I once stopped my old boss (who was a TERRIBLE climber) from cutting a crane pick while he was still tied in to the piece being picked…that would’ve been one hell of a ride!

Appreciate the video, you have some good points. Someone did the same thing In my town when I was an apprentice so this has always been a fear of mine! Unfortunately they didn’t make it!

good video and great breakdown. always have to stary sharp on the job and constantly double checking everything while checkiing the surroundings . my dad always says a good climber is only as good as his ground man

I’m gonna go out on a limb and say that social media has a little bit to do with this incident. Based on the zero movement from the camera, I assume the climber put a camera in place before making this cut. This guy was probably trying to make a sweet TikTok.

Thank you for doing this video.

Being tied in like that and dropping the top half a a tree. Man that can rip you in half, I don’t see how anyone could live through that

Don't make no mistakes, triple check every single stage, step and process. If your having an off day and things aint going right, leave it, take a break and go back tomorrow, it's better than not being here tomorrow. Stay safe brothers

Thanks Dan

Same here. We were riging some easy(light weight😅) stuff, but still some weight. Colleague of mine had his lanyard attached over the spot where he intended to cut. As I had the rigging rope in a hand waiting for the drop, I could observe and warn. In case he would be only dropping, there would be higher chance I would not be watching. It wouldn‘t be fatal, but likelihood of injury was big. Thanks

There is another angle of this video and he got super lucky bc the piece hit the ground before it pulled him down farther

When i train a Groundman this Is the only thing that he must check everytime the climber Makes the backcut.

I saw that right away but thought maybe he was tied into the tree next to it

This is why I never make a notch tied into the piece. I am cutting at any time never.

When I start chunking down a stalk, my climb line is already disconnected and I'm working strictly with my lanyard., even if I'm dog tired.

A routine of quick safety checks before dropping a section is vital. FlipLine and climb line out of cutting area and below your cut, ground clear of people, etc. Complacency kills.

Thank you for putting this content out there, good breakdown and things we should all be thinking about. Generally, trunk cutting while still top tied should be a no-no I'm my opinion. I've had conversations with people regarding "well if it is dead or might collapse it could save you". Man if that is your main concern, you shouldn't be gaffed in. I'm sure people disagree with me here, but there is ample machinery available for rent now that can be factored into a bid, risking your health just isn't worth it.

Nearly did the same, about 20 years ago, had a lot on my mind, wasn't thinking straight, my ground guy stopped me, just before I started putting the back cut in, grounds man are your eyes on the ground. Just glad he had his wits about hin

A good reason to carry a whistle on your harness or person, so everybody stops what they're doing if a whistle blows.

Ive been in tree work since 2004, seen this nearly happen more than once. Guys i saw many times would out of habit leave their main line up above whilst making the face cut. Then they would (normally) remove it to make the back cut. But more than once youd have to sceam and wave to remind them they need to move the main line below the cut. Its just not good practice, it leaves you wids open to this mistake. Even if its easier, it aint worth it. Move both systems below the cut, then make the face cut, that way you you aint gotta worry about forgetting or even something goes wrong and it fails early. Hope that guy is ok, its a bloody dangerous job, despite how safe we try and make it, Its a dangerous job.

Você é o cara do video ? Fiquei em choque com esse acidente ! Que bom que esta vivo ! Espero que fique bem e retorne logo ao trabalho . Estou começando nesse ramo , aprendendo a escalar na raça mesmo utilizando pouco recurso nas podas de arvores . Um abraço dos arboristas do Brasil Feliz ano novo

There was a news report of a guy that was killed while dismantling an Hemlock he was tied into. I believe he was pretty much broken in half. Quite horrendous.

😮 it blows me away to see stuff like this.. gotta be mindful of both tie ins at all times. I don't let climbers make the face cut while tied above for this reason.. I guess it's easier to do than I imagined

We had a climber do the same thing and fell 60 ft straight on his back landing on a fence. Terrifying job, be careful out there guys

Wow, glad to hear the guy is okay. That looked really bad.

Looking at the video I think there is a possibility that he was making his "side cuts" but, face cut being deep, and side cut as well, the piece began to drop before he even makes his back cut. Still, making face cut will being tied up is really sketchy.

Yep....ive done it. Exactlly as you said brought baggage to the work day...troubled. wasnt aware of it but was obvious in hindsight. Twin tops dropped one went for the second ? Man, I realized the moment i did it. Cut through my line before being pulled in half and totally traumatized my Son who was on the pull rope?? And i pride myself of being a long serving safety concious arborist??? Shit happens....be safe. My Son left Arb college no longer interested....!

Can you add a link to this?

Shit...I just hope he is alright now....

My guess is that the climber is relatively new, and he learned a new trick recently, and was a little too eager to try it out. I seen this happen to an old timer about 25 years ago when I was being trained, the guy was in a big hurry and definitely trying to show off.

My God! Crazy... Very crazy...

He made a habit of doing the face cut while still tied in above, which is insane to me long hours, family problems, this that life on life terms boom 💥 me personally, I don’t walk to the edge of a cliff and stand there. Murphy’s Law what can go wrong will go wrong be safe.

Sad! That he wasn’t aware of what he was doing!

Rules are always written in blood. Thankfully this was just a bad scare, could have been a LOT worse. Thnx for the upload!

good stuff

Great video on an important issue ........... but I just realised someone has gone to a lot of effort to film it , correct position of camera and framing . Maybe more attention to the job than content creation next time . Guessing he was taken all the way to the ground , so the groundy did not have to climb to recover .

You only get one chance, gotta be 100% aware of your environment at all times when climbing.

Bugger, so happy to hear he came out ok, but still.

This is just another reason why comms are essential for tree work

Guys gotta learn to down climb on chunk outs so they never have to second guess if their life line is above em

He spaced out and screwed up big time. If he survived, he should consider another line of work.

I'm glad I've never done this in my 24 years of arboriculture work.

Saw a guy drunk top a tree tied to the top. He’s dead.

I can totally see how this could happen. I've made an 80% notch only to realize I was still tied in above. I decided to cut 20' off of my climb line rather than climb up on the sliver of spar that was still in tact. Fuck a $200 rope. Taking a second to ensure the ground is clear will save you and your crew from making mistakes that could ruin or end lives. Good stuff here bruv.

Crazy

😮 oooh dang!!!!!

I notice more and more newer climbers doing this, I'm guessing it's because they're not very adept at using spurs.

I bet that he was conscious about still being tied up to it and he planned to do nice face cut then pull his top anchor out before doing the back cut, however for some reason he has forgotten to do the second step... Possibly he was tired, Los of concentration etc...

I just don’t understand how anyone could do this while up a tree. I never done this job but I run saws a lot and was a water well driller who climbed mast multiple times daily and when I was climbing I was always double checking everything before I made any moves no matter how cold tired I was. Something about falling 30 feet to steel pretty much a death sentence.

What was the groundie doing ffs

That’s as bad as someone chipping your climbing line.

I was in that position 20 +years ago with a pull line attached doing the back cut the ground guys saw it and let go of the rope the tree top sat back on my saw I was swearing at them and it was pointed out I was still attached to about 20ft of tree and my flip line if I'd cut through and the top went John the forester on the ground said I'd have been ripped in half. sobering thought anyway I hope the guy in the video is OK when felling small trees nptc tells you to have an escape route if it goes wrong 40ft up a tree and where can you go be safe brothers merrychristmas 😮❤

Had a friend who did this. He got slammed to the ground amd hurt pretty badly

When you smoke a blunt before work

What happened to this dude?

2much🍀?

And I am not sure why he even used the climbing system for the task, that is not common at all....

Man that's really not a good thing

Me happens the similar thing, last cut from 9 25m pines in 2 days It was about 50cm wide and 4m long , and I was in same height I made sure the puller goes in a good direction and forgot that i still have my rope 12 feet over me ...I like tl cut the face wide stems cause it is comfortable to dance around and better for hips Lastly i cut it and the at least 250kg stem fell down , luckily it was landing on the top but i was pulled against the stem like a horse was pulling me on the stem ...in moment of the biggest force i had at least double the weight in the harness , it stopped and I realized what happened , fuck ...but I had only little wounds . If this would have been more high i would have been un trouble Finally crazy experience 😜 Always think 3 times your act Routine is a unexpected killer

That is likely a for internet viral joke

Its happend alot. Just not filmed. Yer not much to say. Fulla i work with does heaps contractor fast. He stops n puts his hands out n chills. Looks wierd. But think slows em up to think. Thanks 1 moment.

God bless

Under cut is way to big 80% or so.

2 tours in Iraq and now a career in trees, and you're SPOT ON. leave home at home or don't climb that day.

the fact that so many aborists here in the comments almost had the same accident is kinda concerning to be honest.

Its easy to do

Are you living in a cartoon?

So many treesurgeons are piss poor, i got luck and skill on my side 25 years and barely a scratch and didn't start climbing until i was 33! Gotta be on it boys!

I watch this and think of the dudes doing solo tree work.

Rip

Tree work is a good way to get yourself killed if you dont pay attention and know what your doing. Ive been trimming 15 yrs and haven't had any major accidents, but I was almost stung to death by honey bees once 🫣