Hillsborough Co. Man Killed By Chainsaw While Clearing Trees

TOWN 'N' COUNTRY, FL — A man was killed by the chainsaw he was using to clear a branch in Town 'n' Country on Monday. Reports say the chainsaw became stuck in a branch, then kicked back, severing the man's carotid artery.

Wilfredo Hernandez, 55, of Town 'n' Country, climbed a tree on his property, the sheriff's office said, to get a better reach of a problem branch and went to work. While chainsawing, the tool became stuck in the branch and kicked back towards him, hitting his neck, causing him to bleed to death.

Hillsborough County Sheriff’s spokeswoman Cristal Nunez said deputies used a harness to lower Hernandez from the tree after his death, Metro reported.

The Tampa Bay Times reported that a medical examiner said his carotid artery and jugular vein were hit by the chainsaw.

Rodrigo Martinez, Hernandez's friend, said he would remove the tree and bury Hernandez where he was killed. The Times reported that Martinez, using a handsaw, finished cutting down the branch that resulted in his friend's death just a day later.

"We're going to take it down," Martinez told the Times, "And bury him where he fell."

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