Dead Tree Trimmer Recovered From Palm Tree in Bakersfield

BAKERSFIELD, Calif., Oct. 20 (KNN) - The Kern County Fire Department's Urban Search and Rescue Team recovered the body of a tree trimmer from under multiple layers of a palm tree's dried fronds in Bakersfield.
The Kern County Fire Department responded to a reported trapped tree trimmer in the 800 block of Plaza Street at 4:37 p.m. Thursday.
According to the KCFD, Truck 41 found a tree trimmer pinned under palm fronds approximately 30 feet up in a tall palm tree. The victim had been unresponsive for approximately 30 minutes before the firefighters’ arrival. Despite expert positioning, Truck 41’s 100-foot ladder fell short of reaching the tree. The only viable option was to send a rescuer up into the tree. Due to the technical nature of palm tree rescues, the Kern County Fire Department’s Urban Search and Rescue Team (USAR-47) was requested.
The trained rescuer, hanging by ropes from the palm tree, worked to expose the trapped victim hidden beneath the dead fronds. Due to the length and physical demands of the operation...access the rest of the story on keynews.tv. Scroll to "Publications."
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[@tiffanykraft944]

So fricken unbelievably sad. Praying for the man who lost his life and the First Responders who carefully and respectfully brought him down 🧡

[@gigimoore3738]

Wow, very sad! Bless the rescuers and their exhausting work.

[@user-wj7mc2nj6n]

Heart Breaking. Thoughts and prayers.

[@CrystalBennett-kl9qr]

Actually in a way it’s good to see because a lot are not aware or believe it can happen it helps bring awareness for those who do tree work

[@MariaFernandez-fv3ov]

MY CONDOLENCES TO THE WHOLE FAMILY AND CREW

[@deemee7329]

So very sad. Condolence and Prayers for the family.. Thankful to firefighters to recover his body.

[@NormaCreech]

Prayers 🙏 to his family, sorry for your lost.

[@Gloria-r5t]

Such A Heartbreaking tragedy.💔 Thoughts And Prays For Al🙏

[@xuxito]

RIP. I already prayed for him in a separate reporting.

[@TheBackStory22]

Identified: 10/22/2024, BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) - The children of Fermin Ulices Leiva went to see the place where their father died for the first time. They were left with many questions about how it came to this. From El Salvador, Leiva, 55, started climbing palm trees as a kid over four decades ago. “We tried to let him know that this is a dangerous job,” said Yessica Leiva. Yessica said her father worked for a contractor who does not have a registered business, and has not heard from that man again. She wants her dad to be remembered for his young soul. “He was a happy person, he was always happy, and he was like : ‘I can do everything I want,'” said Yessica Leiva, “And that he was fighting every day to live a happy and to be brave.” Leiva leaves nine children behind, from ages 10 to 37. His family wants to repatriate his body to El Salvador. KGET17, Cecilia Treviño (4) There is now a "Fermin Ulices Leiva Memorial Palm" in East Niles, CA.

[@TheBackStory22]

In the US there is an average of 61 such incidents [fatal, tree trimming related deaths] a year for calendar years 2020 through 2023. Three (3) Palm-frond skirt fatalities were reported during the same period, less than 1% of the total fatalities reported. The most common cause of a fatalities was being struck by the tree or part of the tree, 32% of reported fatalities, being pulled in to a chipper and dying, 2.5% of deaths*. Source: Peter Gerstenberger, senior vice president of industry support at Tree Care Industry Association (TCIA). *Woodchipper Survival Statistics (from Brave AI) Survival Rate: Based on the provided search results, there is only one documented case where a person survived being pulled into a woodchipper. The individual, who was described as being “skinny” and wearing a loose-fitting bulky sweatshirt, managed to survive despite the machine making deep slashes in their hard hat. Case Details: The incident occurred on June 19, 2018, and was documented in an online post titled “Experience: I fell through a wood chipper.” The survivor described the event as having a “one in a million” chance of survival. Comparison to Fatalities: According to the search results, there have been numerous fatalities involving woodchippers, including 113 deaths between 1982 and 2016, as reported in the American Journal of Industrial Medicine. In contrast, the single documented survival case highlights the extreme rarity of such an event. “We have seen this in the past with these palm fronds falling on these tree trimmers and it is something that is relatively unique to certain types of palm trees,” Chula Vista Battalion Chief Tim Mehrer told KNSD

[@babyfalcon9711]

What company did he work for ? Was it Johnnys tree ?

[@TheBackStory22]

@babyfalcon9711 never said, but it was reported that the business disappeared and the owner could not be found.

[@babyfalcon9711]

@@TheBackStory22 that’s crazy!

[@Pete661]

Dont trim them palm trees from the bottom. Start from the top on down. Them palm fronds get get pretty heavy and crush you. Condolences to the family.

[@kymberlypayne163]

How does this happen? I guess I'll have to do research. Im so sorry for the pain this family is feeling right now. ❤️May God comfort the family.

[@pra3t0rian]

This happens a surprising amount.

[@Louisgarg]

I need a hug 🫂❤

[@tre3175]

Rest in peace guy.😢

[@Knot-k2y]

😢 🙏 for family

[@ismaelcarrillo3956]

Apparently times accidents happen very often. There's many videos of these tragedies. Why isn't there rules or laws on how to do it right.

[@Conservative-i3f]

Prayers for his family. Is there a GoFundMe set up? Thank you to the Bakersfield Fire Department. What a sad, sad task.

[@amyochoa1030]

There should be a law of not allowing to let these trees grow that tall. Now others risking their lives also. God Bless you for bringing your soldier home.

[@Florahitman]

It will always be a risky business anyway.

[@LovesSunshine114]

A law to stop trees from growing??

[@morrisl7]

yeah lets make another worthless law that restricts our freedom for no good reason. or how about - a law that all arborists have to pass a basic safety exam? you know, something that makes actual sense.

[@roygarcia5271]

My condolence🙏

[@robinlanier6886]

So very sad. 😢

[@Plathianloner]

How does one die in this manner, from suffocation?

[@eddiehernandez302]

How did he die

[@YeseniaGarcia-iw3ty]

I think the palm tree leaves crush him. May he rest in peace and may the Lord give his family straight amen 🙏🏻

[@gavinhaynes5632]

Palm leaves can crush you? How did he get underneath all that. I just can't picture how he died. R.I.P

[@KDbbasm]

​@@gavinhaynes5632 He cut from the bottom instead of from the top down.. Cutting away the bottom caused the very heavy top fronds to no longer have support and they slid down crushing him very likely breaking his neck and back

[@gavinhaynes5632]

@@KDbbasm thank you. That makes sense now 🤔

[@micheletetley6142]

Brutal

[@DouglasSalguero-i3s]

What happen he got stuck up there

[@evanspark1510]

very sad!

[@gaylenehill2783]

Please stop showing this. Respect for this man and his grieving family friends and work colleagues

[@berenlevia8486]

Do you watch gory movies with your kids BTW, if you do then you have nothing to say about this

[@gaylenehill2783]

@berenlevia8486 You are entitled to your opinion. But this is real life, not a made-up story. You obviously don't have empathy.

[@Carflip]

Don't watch it then

[@anthonygarcia3922]

@@gaylenehill2783it’s not about empathy, it’s about showing the world the real dangers to these careers that people aren’t aware of.

[@berenlevia8486]

@@gaylenehill2783 I do have sympathy for this man and his family - I have his family in my thoughts and prayers . My point is if you let your kids watch horror movies, you shouldn't have a problem having them understand reality of really life accidents .

[@ernestoale7256]

Totally avoidable.

[@christyphillips3906]

They are someone just put a shadow on the man that the firemans trying to get out of the tree when the video first aired on my phone it was not shadowed but has been now im sure do to the respect of the individual that passed

[@xuxito]

Whoever invents an Electric saw drone will change the palm tree industry forever. But it can’t be a chain saw since it’ll be too heavy. I would make it so that it can rotate vertically and horizontal with an extended arm. But the drone has to be a descent size to hold the saw’s weight and battery and with a separate battery for the drone.💿

[@leechjim8023]

Sadly I'll bet someone tries to make a weapon of it!!😢👎

[@jrnumex9286]

camera operator s....ks out of focus

[@chuylopez8793]

Back in 6-12-1990 i was gonna work for a tree trimming Co. So i was put with the Hardcore Mexicans the crew leader kicked me out said , "no good mr Taylor he woman. Made me feel sad angry.

[@Sanluispotosi12]

Seen a comment saying "one less" whoever wrote that must be a trumpster

[@berenlevia8486]

Seriously , you are not mature enough to keep politics out of a conversation and not accusing people of something you have no proof of ?

[@Sanluispotosi12]

@@berenlevia8486 i saw the comment im just saying theres a lot o racist comments every time it comes to hispanc person and tou know it you're probably one those ra!(!st people

[@staceyshaffer180]

C’mon, Really!

[@berenlevia8486]

@@staceyshaffer180 and who was that comment to and , what really?

[@anthonygarcia3922]

@@berenlevia8486well he isn’t wrong. The guy was actually a trump supporter referring to one less “immigrant”….

[@Louisgarg]

❤❤ save USA kamila. Mexican firefighter s needed❤

[@berenlevia8486]

Someone just died trying to do their job, have the maturity to keep politics out of it .

[@janesgirl6806]

​@@berenlevia8486Exactly 💯

[@judywillis2345]

He loved America more than you could imagine. It sucks being a loser ie you

[@jamesrecknor6752]

She did nada

[@giancarlomaster2535]

Mexicanos

[@TheNIGERKILLER]

Salvadorian you Jew