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 his harness in Boston, Massachusetts
- Footage taken by Shane Flanagan shows the tree sway when a branch is cut
- This happens after ropes tightly pulling the section downwards are released
A tree surgeon was sent flying with a live chainsaw in his hand as he cut off the top of an unstable tree.
Footage taken by onlooker Shane Flanagan shows the tree surgeon perched on a tall tree while cutting the top off it in Boston, Massachusetts, on Sunday.
As the upper section is cut off the unstable tree tree sways and the man falls off his perch with the chainsaw still running in his hand.
His harness saves him from falling further as the tree rocks dangerously.
A tree surgeon was sent flying with a live chainsaw in his hand when felling an unstable tree in Boston, Massachusetts
The tree sprung back when the branch came off as the tension from the ropes was released, 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 immediately rebounds in the opposite direction as the tension from ropes pulling the top section towards the ground is released.
He falls off from his perch holding the running chainsaw above his head as the unstable tree rocks.
The harness prevents him falling any further and 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
The unstable tree was being taken down by a company due to its compromised roots.
Tension ropes were used to pull the top of the tree down and stop it moving while the tree surgeon sawed off the top branches.
Shane Flanagan said: ‘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.’