Falling tree kills country club worker

NASHUA – A “freak accident” Monday morning caused the death of a man cutting trees at a private country club.

An employee of Sky Meadow Country Club was killed after a tree he was cutting fell on him and crushed his chest.

The man, whose identity has not yet been released, apparently had the tree come back on him as he cut it, Sky Meadow clubhouse manager Ed Callahan said.

Callahan said he didn’t have many details yet on what had happened but was told it was a “freak accident.” Other employees were with the victim when it happened, he said.

Staff members of the private club are grieving the man, who worked there for many years, Callahan said. The family was notified, he said.

“Most of the people here are in shock,” Callahan said Monday afternoon.

“If you knew the person he was, it’s just hard to believe,” Callahan said. “Our first concern right now is for the family.”

Firefighters arrived after other workers had removed the tree from the man and were performing CPR, Nashua Fire Rescue Lt. Tom Perault said. The man was in cardiac arrest, Perault said.

Perault didn’t have much information, other than the man was transported to Southern New Hampshire Medical Center.

Because the death occurred at the man’s place of work, fire officials notified the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration through the state, Deputy Fire Chief John Allison said.

Although the death appears to have been an accident, police were continuing to investigate the circumstances Monday afternoon.