Man who was rescued after Kaysville ‘tree-cutting accident’ dies in hospital

KAYSVILLE, Utah (ABC4) — The man who was rescued by firefighters after losing consciousness in a “tree-cutting accident” died in a hospital from his injuries, Kaysville Police Department confirmed Thursday.

The Kaysville Fire Department responded to a report of a tree-cutting incident near 130 E Shadowbrook Lane in Kaysville on Wednesday morning, March 19. Authorities said they found a man — now identified as Santos Baudilio Lopez Perez, 49 — unconscious and suspended 30 feet in the air by his harness.

Kaysville Police said Perez was working on cutting the top section of a tree and made “the final cut,” after which the tree’s top half fell on top of him on its way to the ground. He was harnessed to the tree, causing him “to stay suspended in the air after the incident.”

Fire crews called in additional help and rope technicians safely lowered him to the ground before flying him by helicopter to the University of Utah Medical Center in critical condition. Perez died later that day from his injuries.

“Santos Baudilio was a hardworking man, dedicated to his work, and always made sure to follow safety precautions. His passing was a devastating accident that left his family and loved ones heartbroken,” a GoFundMe reads.

The GoFundMe says Perez had a wife and five children in his homeland of Guatemala. The fundraiser’s page says the money donated will be used to send Perez’s body back to his country so he can be buried by his family.

“With great sadness, we share the passing of our beloved Santos Baudilio. His kindness, love, and presence touched the lives of so many people,” the GoFundMe says.