A forestry contractor is “lucky to be alive” after a huge tree he was felling rolled off its stump, crushing his legs and pelvis.
The 52-year-old man was trapped by the tree, which was more than 100ft tall and 2ft wide, in Glen Loy Forest near Fort William.
Workers were cutting down huge trees which were too big for a harvesting machine when the drama unfolded.
It triggered a massive emergency services response with 17 members of Lochaber Mountain Rescue Team, ambulance staff, police and the Inverness Coastguard helicopter racing to the scene.
The man was airlifted to Raigmore Hospital in Inverness. His injuries were described as “serious” but not life-threatening.
John Stevenson, leader of Lochaber MRT, said: “He was a contractor for the Forestry Commission. They were cutting some huge trees down. They were too big for the harvesting machine.
“It swung back on him, just spun out as he was cutting it. It was a big tree. He has got some very nasty leg and pelvis injuries.”
The man was drifting in and out of consciousness as forestry workers cut sections of the tree and managed to free him.
Mr Stevenson continued: “Because it was new forestry they were clearing there was a rough track up to the scene of the accident, but it was just mud. You couldn’t drive on it so it was a case of plodding up through the mud.
“Luckily he was in a clearing and we managed to winch him up. The ambulance lads got a lift up in one of the machines and between us we got him packaged up before the helicopter lifted him out.
“He is very lucky to be alive.
“He was badly injured but we have been out to a number of forestry accidents before and some of them have been fatalities.Rescue Helicopter 951 was able to winch the casualty from the small clearing with assistance from the team on ground using highline to ensure the winchman and stretcher avoided the surrounding trees.”
A Scottish Ambulance Service spokesman said: “We received a call at 12.40pm to attend an incident in Glen Loy Forest.
“We dispatched one ambulance, a paramedic response unit and a manager to the scene.
“The patient was trapped in an inaccessible location so the coastguard helicopter was brought in to support us with the retrieval.
“One male patient in his 50s was taken to Raigmore Hospital by helicopter.”
A spokesman for Forest Enterprise Scotland said: “Health and safety is a top priority and we are currently investigating the circumstances surrounding this incident.
“We would like to commend all of the partner agencies for their quick response in handling the situation.”
A spokeswoman for the Health and Safety Executive said: “HSE is aware and making initial inquiries.”
