Cat rescuer falls from tree| 30 years in business though!

Eric Frei · 26th July 2009, 03:45 PM

Well.

Here's a sad story.

Source: Fairbanks man falls after rescuing cat from tree

Quote:

Fairbanks man falls after rescuing cat from tree

FAIRBANKS, Alaska -- A Fairbanks man is in intensive care at Harborview Medical Center in Seattle with injuries suffered in a fall after he rescued a cat from a tree.

The hospital reports Friday that Joe Fletcher is in serious condition.

The 73-year-old had a torn aorta, broken ribs and brain swelling after falling 25 feet Saturday from a tree at a home.

He had just retrieved a cat named Sam, who was chased up the tree by a dog and refused to come down. Pet owner Jenny Ray called Fletcher who has operated the J and E Trees business for 30 years.

Employee Chris Held told The Fairbanks Daily News-Miner Fletcher rescued the cat as a favor.

So Fletcher the old codger saves a cat with 9 lives but risks his own!

Just sad, you'd think after 30 years of owning a tree business he'd know about ropes and harnesses.

I hope he makes it, tough on old people accidents like that (mind you most would be dead if not stuffed for life after a fall like that), lucky to still be alive.

JohN Dee · 26th July 2009, 11:17 PM

You know the more and more I hear about these bloody accidents where 20-30 years experienced tree loppers are getting hurt the less and less I think towards the title of 30 years experience

Don't get me wrong, I take pride in my almost 8 years experience and respect many blokes for their 10, 20, 30+ years of experience.

It just shits me that to the public 20 years exp. is weighed more heavily and is viewed as a better point in advertising then a Qualified Arborist. How many times have you heard the phrase "Oh but he's been doing it for 20 years" compared to "Oh but he's qualified".

Eric Frei · 26th July 2009, 11:24 PM

You'll also find that "favours" aren't approached with the same business mentality as paying work. Don't let your guard down.

Eric Frei · 12th August 2009, 12:13 AM

Looks like the guy died.

newsminer.com • Fairbanks man dies after falling from tree during feline rescue

Quote:

FAIRBANKS — A Fairbanks man who fell 25 feet while rescuing a cat stuck in a tree last month has died.

Joseph Fletcher’s family made the difficult decision to remove Fletcher’s breathing tube last weekend, daughter Rebecca Fletcher Bafus said. He died on Monday, according to an official at Seattle’s Harborview Medical Center.

“It was not an easy decision for us,” Fletcher Bafus wrote in an e-mail update. “We all just want what is best for dad. We want to do what he would want us to do.”

Fletcher, 73 and co-owner of

J and E Trees, was attempting to rescue Sam, a gray Russian Blue cat, from a tall tree at Jenny and Terry Ray’s Birchwood Homes yard. Jenny Ray previously told the News-Miner that Fletcher wouldn’t even accept payment for the service.

After letting Sam down with a rope and pet carrier, Fletcher fell. He was transported to Anchorage, then to Harborview Medical Center. He had surgery to fix a torn aorta and mend broken ribs, and suffered a head injury.

Fletcher Bafus shared thoughtful words about her father.

“He loved his neighbors and home and living in Alaska,” she wrote. “He’s always lived a simple life and was not into materialistic things, but the importance of relationships, climbing big trees, picking his guitar, hunting his moose and being with friends and family.”

Garry Brockley · 12th August 2009, 10:51 AM

bless him, he just done what came naturally and helped someone, looks like he had his priorities sorted too, "climbing big trees, picking his guitar, hunting his moose and being with friends and family",add a few beers and that sounds ideal to me.

26th July 2009, 11:17 PM	#2
JohN Dee Moderator Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Climbing around the world Posts: 848	Re: Cat rescuer falls from tree\| 30 years in business though! You know the more and more I hear about these bloody accidents where 20-30 years experienced tree loppers are getting hurt the less and less I think towards the title of 30 years experience Don't get me wrong, I take pride in my almost 8 years experience and respect many blokes for their 10, 20, 30+ years of experience. It just shits me that to the public 20 years exp. is weighed more heavily and is viewed as a better point in advertising then a Qualified Arborist. How many times have you heard the phrase "Oh but he's been doing it for 20 years" compared to "Oh but he's qualified". __________________ We are what we repeatedly do... Excellence then, is not an act, but HABIT... Red : Green : Blue

26th July 2009, 11:24 PM	#3
Eric Frei Admin - Owner Palm & Tree Services in Brisbane Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Brisbane Posts: 12,994	Re: Cat rescuer falls from tree\| 30 years in business though! You'll also find that "favours" aren't approached with the same business mentality as paying work. Don't let your guard down. __________________ Protect your rights to work - Join Australian Tree Association My businesses:- Qualified Brisbane Palm and Tree Lopping \| Stump Grinding Brisbane \| Brisbane - Gold Coast Consulting Arborist

12th August 2009, 10:51 AM	#5
Garry Brockley Bayside Tree Care Brisbane Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Brisbane Aus Posts: 1,641	Re: Cat rescuer falls from tree\| 30 years in business though! bless him, he just done what came naturally and helped someone, looks like he had his priorities sorted too, "climbing big trees, picking his guitar, hunting his moose and being with friends and family",add a few beers and that sounds ideal to me. __________________ My business:- Brisbane Bayside Tree Care

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