Tree trimmer dies while working on palm tree in Tempe

PHOENIX — A tree trimmer died while on the job in Tempe on Sunday morning, according to the Tempe Fire Medical Rescue Department.

Crews responded around 8:30 a.m. to the area of Mill Avenue and Apache Boulevard, where the worker was trimming a palm tree.

Officials said the worker was injured when a large palm skirt fell on him. He was pronounced dead at the scene and his body was recovered after receiving medical attention.

A Tempe Fire Medical Rescue official said crews conducted a “high-angle recovery” and pried probably “hundreds of pounds” of palm skirt off of the worker. They were not able to confirm the identity of the worker who died at this time.

“(Incidents like these) are truly unfortunate, and they’re just one of those things that unfortunately happen. They’re one of the dangers of that job of trimming a palm tree,” the official said. “It’s hard to get here, get here quickly, get set up in a position to where we can affect a rescue and save that person.”

No other information was immediately available.

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