Published Monday, Dec. 22, 2014 | 7:20 p.m.
Updated Monday, Dec. 22, 2014 | 11:15 p.m.
A tree trimmer died in North Las Vegas on Monday afternoon after being trapped in a palm tree, according to North Las Vegas fire officials.
Las Vegas Fire and Rescue and North Las Vegas Fire Department received word of a man stuck in a tree about 4:30 p.m. in the 1700 block of James Street, near Owens Avenue and Pecos Road, said NLV fire spokesman Cedric Williams in a statement.
Upon arriving, firefighters located a 25- to 30-foot palm tree in the yard of a single-story home, but hanging palm fronds shrouded the apparent victim, Williams said.
Risks of trimming palm trees
Crews used a ladder to access the fronds covering the victim and cut them down to attempt a rescue. Upon reaching the man, firefighters determined he was dead, Williams said.
The Clark County Coroner's Office will release the cause of death and identify the victim after family notification.
Deaths from suffocation can occur when palm fronds collapse over trimmers' heads, pinning them to the trees. The California Department of Public Health created a YouTube video highlighting the danger faced by trimmers.
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