Logger killed by falling tree

FROM a tender age Annmarie Johnathan had always had a fear of silk cotton trees, which she believed to be “bad trees.”

Unknown to her yesterday her husband, Gerald Johnathan, 52, also known as “Sleepy” went with a contractor  to cut down a 100-foot tall silk cotton tree, in San Fernando. In a bizarre accident, a piece of equipment used to pull the tree mysteriously malfunctioned and a branch of the tree fell on top of Johnathan’s head, killing him within minutes.

The incident occurred around 12.15 pm at Lady Hailes Avenue, in the vicinity of the PTSC compound, while the tree was being cut on top of a hill. “When I was smaller my mother and father used to tell me that tree not good...that it have dead people and things under the tree,” Annmarie sobbed. And like many other people, Annmarie believed the tree was  a “jumbie tree” and was afraid of it. “If I did know he was going to cut a silk cotton tree I would of say ‘boy doh, go.’ I would a tell the mister he cannot go,”she added.

When Newsday visited the scene, contractor Nelson Lalsiew, owner of N&S Electrical Contracting Company in Penal, explained that he (Lalsiew) had been hired by TTEC to cut down the tree, and he had rented Johnathan’s power-saw for the day.  “He (Johnathan) does not like to lend out his saw so he came with us,” he said. Lalsiew said as a safety precaution he blocked off the road to vehicular traffic and ensued that no one was in that vicinity when the tree was being cut. “You could never tell when a tool will malfunction.” he added. Lalsiew said Johnathan was not supposed to be standing so close to the work site. He said when Johnathan realised the tree was falling in his direction he tried to run and a branch struck him on the head. Johnathan, of San Francique Road, Penal, died at the San Fernando General Hospital.

Lalsiew could not explain what caused the equipment to malfunction, adding that he would assist the family with funeral arrangements and in “any other possible way.” Trying to keep back her tears, his wife Annmarie, said she had been married to her husband for 16 years and that they had no children. She said Johnathan was a logger and he also sold meat blocks. This is the second tragedy for the family within this week — last Monday her nephew passed away. An autopsy is expected to be performed on the body today at the mortuary of the San Fernando General Hospital. Investigations are being continued by Cpl Roopnarine and PCs Deosaran and Smith.