San Jose firefighters relied on a CAL FIRE helicopter to reach the worker after a medical emergency left him stranded high in a palm tree

SAN JOSE, Calif. — A CAL FIRE helicopter crew helped rescue a tree worker who suffered an apparent medical emergency while cutting a palm tree about 75 feet above the ground on April 24 in San Jose, officials said.

San Jose firefighters responded to the 2900 block of Sunburst Drive and requested assistance from the CAL FIRE helicopter crew, ABC 7 Bay Area reported.

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“This is the first time they have done an aerial pick off of a tree of this type,” Assistant Fire Chief James Dobson said. “We are typically able to gain access from our aerial apparatus, so this is a unique event.”

The helicopter crew eventually removed the man from the tree and lowered him safely to the ground.

Officials said the rescue took more than an hour because of the worker’s height in the tree and the distance from the street, which made it difficult for crews to reach him and provide medical care.

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