They were pruning a pine tree when a large branch broke and fell on the basket and overturned it, causing them to fall from a height of seven or eight metres.

The toll from the accident which occurred this morning in the garden of a house in Pardu Nou, Siamaggiore, is two injured, one in critical condition.

The owner of the house, Pietro Nicolai, a traffic policeman, and the owner of a company that deals with greenery maintenance were at work on the crown of a tree: they were working on the top of the mechanical arm of a crane.

It is not clear whether they cut the wrong branch or whether there was a sudden failure: the large piece of wood hit the basket, which turned. The two lost their balance and fell onto a pile of more wood. Both suffered trauma and injuries. The more serious of the two is the owner of the land, Pietro Nicolai: he was transferred to the Brotzu in Cagliari by air ambulance and is in the intensive care unit.

The 118 rescuers, the carabinieri and the firefighters were on site.

Valeria Pinna

Mario Tasca

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