Hiker, 28, dead after giant redwood falls on him on Christmas Eve
THE SUDDEN collapse of a 200-foot-tall redwood tree killed a 28-year-old hiker and injured a woman with him Christmas Eve. Subhradeep Dutta was part of a small group trekking through the California park Tuesday when the 4-foot-wide tree fell without warning. The tragedy was “a very rare and isolated event that may have occurred due […]
THE SUDDEN collapse of a 200-foot-tall redwood tree killed a 28-year-old hiker and injured a woman with him Christmas Eve.
Subhradeep Dutta was part of a small group trekking through the California park Tuesday when the 4-foot-wide tree fell without warning.
The tragedy was “a very rare and isolated event that may have occurred due to wet ground from recent winter storms, around the roots of the tree,” National Park Service spokesman Charles Strickfaden said.
Visitors at the Muir Woods National Monument Park in Northern California were permitted in the area where the tree fell at the time of the incident, Strickfaden told KPIX-TV.
According to the Marin County Sheriff’s Office, emergency services were contacted immediately after Dutta was hit around 4:38 p.m. local time.
Dutta, who hailed from Minnesota, was found by first responders to be unconscious – with severe traumatic injuries – underneath the large redwood.
He was pronounced dead on the scene at approximately 5:01 p.m.
The Hillside Trail and part of the main trail remained closed as park crews worked to remove the trunk and branches, Golden Gate National Recreation Area said in a statement.
“The tree fell of natural, unknown, causes following a persistent series of winter storms over the last week and a half, prior to this incident,” the statement said.
Falling debris from the redwood injured a woman walking with Dutta.
She was taken to the hospital and her condition was not immediately clear.
Another man near the scene was unhurt.
At Muir Woods Park the tallest coastal redwood tree is about 258 feet.
MOST READ IN NEWS
The Marin County Sheriff’s Office and personnel of the Coroner Division offered condolences to Dutta’s family in a press release.
A forensic post-mortem examination was planned for today as the investigation continues.
Despite clear skies, it's raining inside GGNRA's Muir Woods National Monument ! The rain from this week's storm has left lots of water spread throughout the 200+ feet of canopy in the #Redwood trees. Throughout the day, wind lightly blows the water down from the trees for a localized rain shower! The dense redwood forest creates its own ecosystem, with varying plants, animals, and even weather at different levels of the canopy!
Video: Savannah Sanford NPS#FindYourPark #EncuentraTuParque
Posted by Golden Gate National Recreation Area on Tuesday, December 17, 2019