When officers arrived they were able to immediately determine that the worker had not fallen and was not impaled. However, he did sustain an injury and was trapped approximately 75 feet up.
The worker was identified as 29-year-old Jose Chavez-Chojan of Camden, an employee of J&R Tree Service from Crookstown, New Jersey.
Chavez-Chojan was working with another individual cutting down trees. He was cutting large branches, which were then lowered by rope to the ground. As he cut one branch it swung and struck him hard in the chest.
Jose was injured by the force of the blow and experiencing difficulty breathing. He was tied into the tree with a safety harness and did not fall, but was unable to climb down on his own.
At approximately 11:40 a.m. Rescuers were able to load him into an aerial truck and he was safely brought to the ground.
Chavez-Chojan suffered chest injuries, potentially some rib fractures. He was eventually tranported to Capital Health System, Fuld Campus for treament.
