The 39-year-old tree trimmer who was killed when palm fronds collapsed onto him while working in a Bontia neighborhood was identified as Bardomiano Bautista-Perez of Escondido, the San Diego County Medical Examiner announced today.
According to the Chula Vista Police Department, the incident occurred shortly before 11:30 a.m. in the front yard of a home located in the 3600 block of Bonita Verde Drive in Bonita. The 39-year-old became trapped and suspended among the cut foliage shortly before 11:30 a.m., according to the San Diego County Medical Examiner's Office.
According to Chula Vista Fire Department Capt. Josh Sanders, Bautista-Perez’s coworker was working to free him from the heavy fronds that pinned him from the tree about 50 feet off the ground.
When firefighters got to Bautista-Perez via a large ladder, they discovered that he had died. His cause of death remains under investigation, according to authorities.
There were four agencies that responded to the incident, including the cities of San Diego, National City, Chula Vista, and the Bonita Fire Protection District, CVFD Battalion Chief Tim Mehrer told OnScene T.V.
First responders used two aerial apparatuses and a 105 ft. areal ladder to help extract the tree trimmer from the dead palm fronds. The person in the areal ladder cleared out the dead palm fronds that trapped the victim, according to Mehrer.
According to Sanders, it took first responders about a half-hour to extract Bautista-Perez from the fronds.
A GoFundMe page in support of Bautista-Perez's family was created by Erasmo Sanchez Gonzalez, who said he is "blessed to have known Bardomiano".
"Bardomiano was a great family man, very hard working, and amazing friend. Bardomiano was a great father to four children (oldest only 14 years old and the youngest 2 years old) and amazing husband. Unfortunately, he lost his life doing the job he loved as a tree trimmer. Any help that people can give is greatly appreciated to help his wife and children through this very difficult time," Sanchez Gonzalez wrote in the GoFundMe page.