I posted in another thread that a local sawmill owner recently purchased 60 acres adjoining my property and they had started logging it about a month ago. I made contact with the owner and logger on the job a few weeks ago to get permission to cut the tops and to my surprise I knew the logger although I hadn't seen him in about 20 years. To get to the point he was killed today on the adjoining property. Amazingly I didn't hear any sirens or commotion today but the entrance to the property is about a mile away on a different road. I found out tonight by hearing rumors from a mother at my grandsons basketball practice. I called my wife and had her call a county official she knows to confirm and get the details. It was confirmed that he was killed today and it happened when a tree he was felling knocked a widow maker loose in the next tree and fell on him and killed him instantly. He was not wearing a hard hat but there was nothing said if it might have saved him. I spoke with him briefly yesterday and he mentioned he was 59 years old. It's hard to believe he is no longer with us. RIP Jeff Bennett.
That's hard news to share bang, and to read. So sorry to hear this. May Jeff Bennett be at peace. Please- all FHC'ers be careful out there!
Man I swear it's so scary, it doesn't take a big branch falling at 10-30' to kill a guy!!! Hey I live in Muncie/Yorktown area, were in Indiana are you??
Very sorry to read about this. Hope he is at peace. I recently bought some parts from a guy in a wheelchair and he was a logger. Similar situation where a widow maker hit him. Be safe out there everyone.
Prayers out to all of his family & friends. Like I've said before you cant be too careful when cutting timber,no matter how experienced you might be.
I am sad to hear this; 59 is way too young to be leaving this world. I guess we can take a lesson from this and remember to check around the area we are cutting for anything that might be a hazard.
I don't know how many years Jeff was a logger but when I 1st met him roughly 30 years ago he was a well established logger and timber buyer.
Just goes to show you, even the professionals, that should just know what they are doing, can become victims. Sad Sent from my SM-T280 using Tapatalk
Mostlikely the hard hat would not have saved him, but you never know unless you wear one. Also make sure if it's a plastic one that you pay attention to the life of them. They don't last forever and get brittle. If it's a metal one make sure to change the suspension out in the hat when told too
I have not said much, because I really do not know what to say. Probably a lot of it has to do with the fact that I am a professional logger and had the exact same situation as you. A friend and fellow logger was cutting wood and out of nowhere a widowmaker came down and broke his neck. Luckily it only broke his neck and he survived. Still, I know I cut on average 70-80 trees per day to make up my load of wood (10 cord). When you are cutting 350-400 trees a week, it is inevitable that something will go amiss. I never say anything on here, or to my wife, but probably at least once weekly there is a close call. After awhile, close calls are average days. Its not false bravado, its just plain complacency... While I do not know your friend, I do know if he was anything like me, he died doing what he loved. I've been cutting wood since I was a kid, and I am at peace that logging is a dangerous occupation. My Great-Great Grandfather died while logging, and should the same happen to me, so be it. I know where I am going. I will pray for Jeff's family for healing and peace.
LodgedTree, my hat's off to you and your fellow loggers. Be safe and careful doing a very dangerous job and never get safety complacent.
my loggers professionals, lost their brother.. when branch came down went thru cab of dozer and his helmet.. dangerous work.. prayers for family
I do most of my cutting just up the road in Mooresville. Hearing about this happening close by certainly adds more emphasis. Prayers for his family.
