Too close!!

[Andy Collins]

Was coppicing a hedgerow today, some of which involved felling some back-leaning Ash trees. One of these, the first of the day, was about 12" dia, 45-50ft tall with a long limb back in the direction of the lean. Put the gob in the direction to fell, started back cut, placed wedge, finished backcut, drove in wedge, tree falls in intended direction. Great stuff. Then things go wrong!

I'm exiting stage left in one of my chosen escape routes, the back limb is now twisting to beneath the tree, which springs the butt up and into my direction, smacking me squarely on the back as i duck down. Fortunately for me i m in a 4 foot ditch and the tree bounces smartly off me and away.

In retrospect, I should have set a pull-line, held the tree with the wedge, and been well clear. BUT.... I estimated that the rear-facing limb would pivot around and stay on the R/H side, I got it wrong. Had I exited to the right, I would have been clear of the butt.

I've thought long and hard about this all day, and whether or not to post it here. By sheer good fortune, I am here to write it, not paralysed, just a bit bruised and battered. Happy days.

[Stephen Blair]

very easy done andy, you wont do it again i am sure, and you can advise others aswell.

glad you are ok mate

[Mick Stockbridge]

Glad youre okay, fairplay for posting.

[Paul Barton]

Phew, glad you are ok Andy! Sounds like it could have been very nasty.

 

Nice one for posting it and keeping us all on our toes.

[Jonesie]

Glad to here your ok Andy a weekend of rest is in order I think.

[sanny]

glad your ok mate it can happen to anyone

[penfold]

I think a few gallons of St Peter's finest quaffing juice is called for there mate and some clean stretch airs. Seriously though glad you're ok, could have been really nasty by sound of it.

[Andy Collins]

glad your ok mate it can happen to anyone

 

No it shouldnt happen at all! I assessed the tree, cleared the escape routes, gauged that the butt may bounce up a bit, felled the tree properly. i wasnt at all cocky or complacent, just used years of practise to get the end result. I simply had not visualised that limb at the back coming around far enough to be beneath the falling tree and cause me a problem. I felled several more similar trees with no worries whatsoever, but this job can be hazardous, new or experienced, and this thread is to help highlight a real life experience so we can all learn from a simple error, which at best was a tad uncomfortable, at worst could have been catastrophic.

[Stephen Blair]

No it shouldnt happen at all! I assessed the tree, cleared the escape routes, gauged that the butt may bounce up a bit, felled the tree properly. i wasnt at all cocky or complacent, just used years of practise to get the end result. I simply had not visualised that limb at the back coming around far enough to be beneath the falling tree and cause me a problem. I felled several more similar trees with no worries whatsoever, but this job can be hazardous, new or experienced, and this thread is to help highlight a real life experience so we can all learn from a simple error, which at best was a tad uncomfortable, at worst could have been catastrophic.

 

if you hadnt had a scare with the first, do you think the others would of went so well andy?another day older and wiser mate:001_smile:

[Andy Collins]

I dunno, I never really dwelled on it, just got up and got on, after a quick ciggie to settle me. Thought about it later once they were all done.