A St. Michael man was airlifted by Life Link Air Ambulance to a Minneapolis hospital after he was injured in a tree cutting accident Thursday, March 5.
David Thies, 56, was injured when a tree broke free and fell on top of his legs shortly before 2 p.m. Thursday. Thies was cutting timber in a treeline south of Wright County Road 119 (45th Street) and west of Iffert Avenue Northeast at the time. The trunk he was cutting on broke loose, according to a report by the Wright County Sheriff’s Office, and landed on top of his legs, pinning him down.
Thies was able to call emergency responders, and St. Michael Fire and Rescue personnel removed the tree from his legs. SMFD and Wright County Sheriff’s Office deputies called for the air ambulance out of precaution, and Thies was airlifted to Hennepin County Medical Center, where he is in critical condition.
Allina Ambulance also assisted at the scene, which was in a field west of Iffert. Crews had to drive across frozen ground to reach the man.