Man, 50, killed by falling tree while clearing helicopter landing zone

A 50-year-old man died in a workplace accident Wednesday, after he was crushed by a tree while clearing a helicopter landing zone on a remote site in northern Manitoba.

The man was part of a four-person crew working near Snow Lake when one of his colleagues cut a tree that fell in the wrong direction and struck him, Manitoba RCMP said in a news release Thursday.

Mounties learned of the accident shortly before 1:30 p.m., when officers participating in Canada Day festivities at a beach in Snow Lake spotted a helicopter land in the parking lot of the nearby health centre, the release said.

Snow Lake is located about 600 kilometres northwest of Winnipeg.

Police worked alongside paramedics, a conservation officer and hospital staff to remove the injured man from the helicopter and take him inside for treatment. He later died, RCMP said.

Mounties spoke with one of the helicopter’s passengers, a 21-year-old man, who told them of the incident. Officers were then transported to the site to examine the scene.

RCMP is conducting an investigation. Manitoba Workplace Safety and Health has also been notified.