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PRINCE GEORGE, Md. — Just after 2:00 PM on Saturday, April 21, 2007, Prince George’s County Firefighters and Paramedics were called to rescue an injured male from an extremely precarious position. With temperatures in the mid-70’s, one of the first “warm” days of the spring season, many homeowners had an opportunity to start on yard work.
In the backyard of a home in the 1800 Block of Porter Avenue in Suitland a homeowner climbed to trim branches from an large overgrown tree. After ascending the tree, the adult male was cutting a large branch off of the tree when the branch suddenly gave way and struck the male on the leg and forced him backwards. Fortunately, the male remained in the tree and did not fall the 30 feet from where he worked. Unfortunately, the force of the falling branch fractured the man’s leg and wedged him into a crook of the tree.
Firefighters and paramedics arrived quickly at the scene and immediately called for assistance from the Fire/EMS Department’s Technical Rescue Team, which trains, in high-angle rescues. It required 45 minutes, from the time of the initial call, for the injured male to have his injury immobilized and with the assistance of the Technical Rescue Team brought to the ground. Paramedics provided additional assistance on the ground and then he was transported by way of the Maryland State Police Helicopter to an area trauma center.