'Kiwi DNA': Man killed by falling branch during DIY tree-felling attempt

Edwin Coulter tried to contact an arborist to have pine trees on his property felled.

When that was unsuccessful, the 54-year-old took a “do it yourself” attitude and did it himself.

But on May 16, 2021, while using a chainsaw with not enough power and while suspended from the tree with a forestry pruning belt, he was struck in the chest by a falling branch that killed him instantly.

In coronial findings released today, Associate Coroner Dan Moore found Coulter was carrying out high-risk tree felling without training or formal experience in this area.

“This ‘do-it-yourself’ attitude is not uncommon in New Zealand; as a previous ad campaign has noted, it is practically part of the Kiwi DNA,” the coroner wrote.

“It is also an approach that works perfectly safely in many circumstances. However, it also needs to be tempered with recognising when it is appropriate to engage someone with expertise and training.”

Coulter and his wife, who is not named in the findings, lived in Bluff. They also owned a property in Clifton, Invercargill, where Coulter’s mother-in-law lived.

While the Invercargill property was two sections, it was effectively combined into one. It included a paddock at the back bordered by large pine trees on two sides.

In early May 2021, the couple were at the property to trim trees. While there, a neighbour spoke to Coulter’s wife about cutting back the pine trees, as they were shading the neighbour’s property.

The Coulters discussed engaging an arborist. They tried to contact contractors but were unsuccessful, so decided to do it themselves.

Coulter had no training in tree removal, but had previously cut down trees on his own and his neighbours’ properties. However, the pine trees at the Invercargill property were taller than trees Coulter had previously worked on.

The couple started working on the trees on May 13, using a petrol chainsaw owned by Coulter’s mother-in-law.

After cutting off the branches, they decided the trees looked too bare, so they decided to fell them completely.

Given the size of the trees, they decided to “top” them first. To do this, Coulter used a ladder to remove low branches, and they borrowed a forestry pruning belt from a neighbour, which Coulter used while topping the taller trees.

The neighbour had shown Coulter how to use the belt.

The following day, Coulter was cutting one of the trees, but it would not fall.

The couple were concerned it would fall backwards and on to the neighbour’s property, so decided to tie a rope between the top of the tree and their four-wheel drive.

His wife then pulled it down with the vehicle to ensure the top fell into the empty paddock on their property. This worked as planned, so they continued using this technique.

Couple considered calling an arborist

On May 15, 2021, they began working on the largest tree on the property.

They tied a rope high in the tree so they could cut it down the following day.

Coulter’s wife later told police the tree was on a lean and said she had suggested to her husband that they get a professional to help cut it down.

However, they proceeded with the work on May 16. Throughout the process, Coulter’s wife filmed and took photos.

Coulter was about 8m off the ground and suspended in the tree by the pruning belt, with his legs on branches below the area where he was going to cut.

The coroner heard the chainsaw used was not right for the size of the tree being felled. Photo / 123RF

His wife was in their vehicle, with the rope attached to the top of the tree, when Coulter cut a wedge into it.

Coulter’s wife began driving forward, but could tell the top was not moving. She put the handbrake on and got out of the car to tell Coulter.

As she did, the treetop fell sideways towards Coulter, hitting him in the chest. His body was bent backwards, and he was left slumped in the pruning belt.

Police, ambulance and fire attended the property, and neighbours also came to help.

Coulter was brought down using a ladder from the fire truck. Despite resuscitation efforts, attending paramedics confirmed he was dead.

The coroner ruled his death was caused by an intracranial and abdominal haemorrhage.

Coulter had not mastered ‘basics of tree felling’

Arboreal consultant Mark Roberts, with more than 30 years’ experience in the arboriculture industry, gave expert advice to Coroner Moore.

He reviewed witness statements, photos and videos taken by Coulter’s wife, including a video of the fatal incident, and identified issues that he believed contributed to the fatal incident.

Coulter was using a scarf and back cut method for topping the trees. When done correctly, this involved cutting a scarf, a directional notch, on the side the tree is intended to fall towards.

A back cut is then cut on the opposing side, slightly above the lower edge of the scarf. The back cut should stop before the scarf, leaving an uncut section of wood that acts as a hinge controlling the direction of fall.

Roberts said the photos from the scene showed poorly placed and misaligned felling cuts.

While Coulter was described as having some experience using a chainsaw, Roberts said that based on his review, Coulter had not mastered what was regarded as the “basics of tree felling”.

“Not only was Mr Coulter felling trees against their natural lean, but he was attaching a pulling line to the trees and pulling them; this is referred to as ‘assisted felling’,” he told the inquiry.

“When undertaking assisted tree felling, the distribution of natural and added forces needs to be considered, and the depth and placement of the felling cuts needs to be adjusted. Assisted tree felling requires a set of skills over and above that of felling a tree against its natural lean.”

Roberts noted Coulter was using a Stihl MS170 chainsaw, which he advised was designed for trimming and cutting small trees around the home.

He said the trees on the Invercargill property were at the upper limit of the capability of that saw.

Roberts also said the forestry pruning belt Coulter was using was primarily designed as a fall restraint device for use when working from a ladder to protect against falls, rather than suspending the worker, as Coulter was using it.

Coroner Moore said the most significant overarching factors were that Coulter was carrying out clearly high-risk tree felling without training or formal experience.

The size of the tree, felling against its natural lean, using a vehicle to assist and felling while harnessed to the tree all contributed to his death, he found.

He recommended that people engage a qualified arborist if the risk of felling is high, and trees with a stump size of more than 200mm should only be felled using the scarf and back cut technique by people sufficiently competent in its use.

“For members of the public who are unsure as to whether tree felling work is suitable for them to do themselves, they should err on the side of caution and consult an arborist.”

Brianna McIlraith is a Queenstown-based reporter for Open Justice covering courts in the lower South Island. She has been a journalist since 2018 and has had a strong interest in business and financial journalism.