Calling Gavin Finch of NZ

Eric Frei · 14th February 2010, 04:36 PM

Anyone know this guy?

Here's the story. I know it's 3 years old but still a good one.

Man in tree accident swung into second tree by rescue chopper - Blenheim - NZ Herald News

Quote:

Thursday Feb 22, 2007
An arborist could be forgiven for being sick of trees, after he broke his leg in a 40-metre tree, and was banged against another while being rescued by helicopter.

Marlborough man Gavin Finch, 31, is in a stable condition in Wairau Hospital in Blenheim.

Westpac rescue helicopter spokesman Dave Greenberg said Mr Finch had been near the top of the tree when the accident happened.

"Apparently one of the man's safety lines got caught up in a falling branch, causing (him) to be thrown over the top of another branch and then fracturing his leg as he hit a third branch," Mr Greenberg said.

Police, ambulance and fire officers tried in vain to reach him from the ground, before rescuers decided to airlift him.

A paramedic was winched down and once Mr Finch was in a rescue harness his safety lines were released, with both men winched into the helicopter.

But it wasn't all smooth sailing.

Mr Greenberg told The Press newspaper that Mr Finch had suffered extra cuts and bruises after he was swung into a second tree while being lifted out of the first.

High winds and surrounding trees and power lines meant it had not been an easy rescue, Mr Greenberg said.

Bruce Hopf · 15th February 2010, 06:46 PM

Wow. I'd rather be swung into another tree, instead of getting tangled up in power lines. A few more scrapes, and bruises, sure would be better than being well done, or char ed. Bruce

phill ellison · 15th February 2010, 07:01 PM

I rememeber this as it was in both paper and tv news, but as I was told this guy was doing a cashie job for himself and had no one on the ground to do an aerial rescue, there was cut limbs all over place inside the tree which is the reason for the ambulance crew to call the rescue copper and lift him out. It was also said that it was very dangerous as it was very windy and very close to the 11kv wires

. osh didn't lay charge as there was a death out in the forest somewhere and to deal with two things was a bit to much

Eric Frei · 15th February 2010, 07:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bruce Hopf

Wow. I'd rather be swung into another tree, instead of getting tangled up in power lines. A few more scrapes, and bruises, sure would be better than being well done, or char ed. Bruce

Bruce, he was swung into another tree. They just mentioned lines were nearby.

Quote:

Mr Greenberg told The Press newspaper that Mr Finch had suffered extra cuts and bruises after he was swung into a second tree while being lifted out of the first.

Bruce Hopf · 16th February 2010, 03:21 AM

I know what you are saying. I was just stating, if I had a choice in the matter, I'd rather get swung into another tree, rather than the hydro wires. Thanks for clarifying. Bruce.

Weta · 2nd March 2010, 06:13 PM

Word was that Gavin actually had a fractured pelvis, and had anyone been able to get up to him to perform an aerial rescue, he would have clobbered them had they tried to touch him, the pain was so severe. He was luckily able to perch on a branch to take the weight out of the harness. Proves the rule of having a back-up in the form of your climbing line lower around the spar, as well as a lanyard, because in flipping over the top he would have otherwise fallen.

woodmiller · 2nd March 2010, 09:23 PM

it hurts reading about this. Having scraped a few motorcyclists off the road with shattered pelvis and the agony they were in, I can only imagine the agony Gavin was in.

15th February 2010, 06:46 PM	#2
Bruce Hopf Veteran Heritage Status Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: North of Sebringville, Ontario, Canada Posts: 1,176	Re: Calling Gavin Finch of NZ Wow. I'd rather be swung into another tree, instead of getting tangled up in power lines. A few more scrapes, and bruises, sure would be better than being well done, or char ed. Bruce __________________ McCulloch chain saws 1- Pro Mac 60, 1- Pro Mac 700, 2- Mac 10-10 Automatic's, 2- Mini Mac 30's, 2- Mac 110's, 2- Mini Mac 35's, 1- Mac 140 with Automatic Chain Sharpener, 1- Pro Mac 10-10, 1- Mac Cat, 2- Eager Beaver 2.0's, 1- Mac 1-10 Stihl chain saws 2- 044's, 2- 034's, 2- 024's, 1- 064, 1- 084, Strunk chain saws 1- Busy Beaver, 1- SpeeDemon Special Stand Back, I Have A Very Extreme Case of CAD (Chain Saw Addiction Disorder).

15th February 2010, 07:01 PM	#3
phill ellison Mature tree Join Date: May 2008 Location: new zealand Posts: 450	Re: Calling Gavin Finch of NZ I rememeber this as it was in both paper and tv news, but as I was told this guy was doing a cashie job for himself and had no one on the ground to do an aerial rescue, there was cut limbs all over place inside the tree which is the reason for the ambulance crew to call the rescue copper and lift him out. It was also said that it was very dangerous as it was very windy and very close to the 11kv wires. osh didn't lay charge as there was a death out in the forest somewhere and to deal with two things was a bit to much

16th February 2010, 03:21 AM	#5
Bruce Hopf Veteran Heritage Status Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: North of Sebringville, Ontario, Canada Posts: 1,176	Re: Calling Gavin Finch of NZ I know what you are saying. I was just stating, if I had a choice in the matter, I'd rather get swung into another tree, rather than the hydro wires. Thanks for clarifying. Bruce. __________________ McCulloch chain saws 1- Pro Mac 60, 1- Pro Mac 700, 2- Mac 10-10 Automatic's, 2- Mini Mac 30's, 2- Mac 110's, 2- Mini Mac 35's, 1- Mac 140 with Automatic Chain Sharpener, 1- Pro Mac 10-10, 1- Mac Cat, 2- Eager Beaver 2.0's, 1- Mac 1-10 Stihl chain saws 2- 044's, 2- 034's, 2- 024's, 1- 064, 1- 084, Strunk chain saws 1- Busy Beaver, 1- SpeeDemon Special Stand Back, I Have A Very Extreme Case of CAD (Chain Saw Addiction Disorder).

2nd March 2010, 06:13 PM	#6
Weta Sappling Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: New Zealand Posts: 18	Re: Calling Gavin Finch of NZ Word was that Gavin actually had a fractured pelvis, and had anyone been able to get up to him to perform an aerial rescue, he would have clobbered them had they tried to touch him, the pain was so severe. He was luckily able to perch on a branch to take the weight out of the harness. Proves the rule of having a back-up in the form of your climbing line lower around the spar, as well as a lanyard, because in flipping over the top he would have otherwise fallen.

2nd March 2010, 09:23 PM	#7
woodmiller Sappling Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Mt Macedon, Vic Posts: 33	Re: Calling Gavin Finch of NZ it hurts reading about this. Having scraped a few motorcyclists off the road with shattered pelvis and the agony they were in, I can only imagine the agony Gavin was in.

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