Crosslake man dies following tree cutting accident
By BRAINERD DISPATCH on Aug 23, 2016 at 7:27 p.m.
A Crosslake man died Friday while cutting down a tree at his property on Anchor Point Road.
The Crosslake Police Department responded at 12:01 p.m. Friday to a report of an injury related to tree cutting.
Paramedics pronounced Richard Becker, 76, Crosslake, deceased at 12:56 p.m. at his home at 12296 Anchor Point Road. His wife, Phyllis Becker, 76, had called 911 after finding her husband lying unresponsive next to a tree he had just cut down.
Upon arrival, a police officer found neighbor Joshua Steuernagel performing CPR on Richard Becker. The officer continued CPR until Crosslake first responders and North Memorial Ambulance arrived and continued CPR.
The only visible injuries on Richard Becker were contusions to his head and stomach area, as well as a broken ankle. There were no indications he was cut by the chainsaw he had been using. There was no debris on top of him.
Richard Becker was working on a tree that had sustained damage from the storms that had gone through the Crosslake area the previous week. There had been a wedge cut out of the tree to make it fall in a certain direction, but it appeared the tree fell in the opposite intended direction.
There were no witnesses and Richard Becker was transported for an autopsy to determine exact cause of death.
Phyllis Becker said she had been in the house and could hear the chainsaw running, followed by the sound of a tree falling. She said she heard the chainsaw idling for an extended period of time so she went out to check on her husband. She found him lying unresponsive next to the tree and flagged down Steuernagel for help as she called 911.