By Michael Donoghue
Vermont News First 

A version of this story appeared in The Islander this week

An arborist, who fell about 35 feet while cutting a dead tree at 301 U.S. 2 in Grand Isle said he was fortunate to have a Guardian Angel protect him from serious injury during his unexpected flight.

Carl LaShomb of Fellers Tree Removal told The Islander this week said he ended up with a few broken bones from the fall last Friday, but somehow managed to avoid a concussion, head injuries or other serious issues as he tumble through the large ash tree to the ground.

“The Good Lord was with me,” LaShomb said.  I don’t remember the fall.  An angel was holding my head. I am blessed.“

He said the next thing he remembered was waking up in an ambulance.

LaShomb, a former Fairfax volunteer firefighter,  said he was discharged from the UVM Medical Center on Sunday and is at home recovering.

He thinks the fall had something to do with the safety harness giving way.

The 911 call to first responders indicated a tree worker had fallen between 60 and 80 feet while working on a crane shortly after 9 a.m., officials said.  In the end the estimate was cut in half.

Fire and rescue personnel took control of the situation and soon had LaShomb on his way to the Burlington hospital.

Grand Isle County Sheriff Ray Allen said his deputies secured the scene and he called in the VermontOccupational Safety and Health Administration (VOSHA), which investigates work place accidents.

LaShomb, who is self-employed, was working with Guerrina Crane Service of South Hero on a contract to take down some dead ash for the property owner, Carl Cobb, officials said. 

“He (LaShomb) is absolutely Superman,” said Dominic Guerrina, president of the crane  company.   “It was a scary situation.  We are all grateful.  He is a stand up guy.”

One eyewitness told The Islander that a large part of a tree was spotted on the ground in the afternoon.

VOSHA Investigator Karl Hayden has been assigned to the case, according to Dirk Anderson, the Director of Workers’ Compensation and Safety for the Vermont Labor Department.

Anderson said he expects the investigation will take a few weeks.