Rescuers Save Pinned Worker From 40 Foot Brookline Tree

A contractor who was cutting branches off a tree in Brookline was hospitalized Thursday morning after becoming pinned.

The accident happened near Castlegate Avenue shortly after 9 a.m.

Neighbors said a man from the area was cutting down a tree for a friend. While he was about 40 feet up the tree, witnesses said he cut a limb that pinned him on the tree.

"He was in relatively significant pain. The branch came down over his right shoulder and right chest area. That caused some difficulty breathing for him," said rescue worker Ed Carlino.

Carlino said it took about 15 minutes to get the man down.

"He was already secure. We re-secured him with our stuff and we had to manipulate the ladder to get him down. It was relatively complicated, but relatively easy to get him down all at the same time," Carlino said.

"When I came out, there was a branch on his right side that had him pinned against another branch," said neighbor Scot Leff. "When he came down he was very pale. They said he wasn't hurt that bad. But he did look like he was in shock when he came down. Very pale and discomfort. So I hope he is okay."

The man was taken to the hospital. Police haven’t released the name or condition of the victim.

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