Man airlifted to Savannah hospital after tree falls on equipment in Sunbury

LIBERTY COUNTY, Ga. (WTOC) - A construction worker was airlifted to a Savannah hospital Thursday after a tree stump fell onto the cab of his excavator on Catbird Road, trapping him inside the machine.

The Liberty County Sheriff’s Office said the incident happened around 9:30 a.m. A worker with Phillips Earthworks was using an excavator to load a tree stump into a dump truck when the stump slipped and crashed down onto the cab, trapping the operator inside.

Neighbor describes the scene

A neighbor, Anthony Connelly, said he arrived shortly after the incident and witnessed crews working to free the man.

“I heard the ambulances, came down here and saw a man in the cab in that excavator and that tree stump where its sitting in, on top him, and I watched em get him out, get him in the ambulance and get him on,” Connelly said.

Connelly, who also operates heavy equipment, said the stump was oak and likely weighs a couple thousand pounds.

Multiple agencies responded

Liberty County Sheriff’s Office, EMS, and fire all responded to the scene. When crews recognized the severity of the situation, they called in LifeStar helicopter. Emergency crews had to cut the operator out of the cab before he was transported by air to Savannah.

Neighbors said Phillips Earthworks had been working in the area for some time, clearing a project site where the incident occurred.

Victim’s identity not yet released

The victim’s identity and condition have not been released. Phillips Earthworks declined to comment but confirmed the victim is fully covered by their insurance.