Terrifying moment tree surgeon is flung off his perch with the chainsaw still running in his hand after he chops off massive branch
- The man holding a chainsaw was saved by hi harness in Boston, Massachusetts
- Footage taken by Shane Flanagan shows the tree ping back when a branch is cut
- Tension ropes holding the unstable tree caused it to catapult back dangerously
A tree surgeon was sent flying with a live chainsaw in his hand when operating on an unstable tree while standing in the branches.
Footage taken by Shane Flanagan shows the tree surgeon atop a tall tree while cutting a large branch in Boston, Massachusetts, on Sunday.
The tree sways from its foundations swinging to one side sending the upper branch flying and the man falls off his perch with the chainsaw still running in his hand.
A tree surgeon was sent flying with a live chainsaw in his hand when operating on an unstable tree in Boston, Massachusetts
The tree sprung back when the branch came off due to tension ropes on the ground, causing the man to fall off with the running chainsaw held above his head
In the video, the man begins sawing the top branch of a tall tree with his chainsaw while standing just below it, above the height of nearby houses.
The branch falls off to the side and the tree is immediately shaken to the side because of the tension ropes holding it from the ground.
He falls off from his perch holding the running chainsaw above his head before he manages to get a foothold just below.
Shane lets out a gasp as the tree surgeon, wearing a helmet, recovers and takes a breath.
The tree surgeon regains a foothold as Shane lets out a gasp and the top of the tree falls to the side
Shane Flanagan said: ‘A company is working to take down a large tree with compromised roots.
‘The tree cutter is working to take the top part of the tree down, with tension from the ground helping to pull the top towards the empty ground.
‘They underestimated how much they had pulled the tree over with the tension, and once the tree trimmer cut enough through the top, the tension snapped, flinging the tree back into a more straight position.
‘This violent snap almost flung the tree trimmer from his place on the tree, all while a chainsaw attached to him was still running.’