Mundakayam: A major rescue operation unfolded at Vandanpathal yesterday afternoon when a tree-cutting worker was stranded nearly 70 feet above the ground for more than three hours. The nerve-racking episode finally ended with the daring intervention of the Fire and Rescue Service.

The worker, Thankachan (54), of Arakkaparambil in Murinjapuzha, had climbed the tree to cut branches when he suddenly felt unwell and was unable to descend. As dizziness set in, he tied himself to the tree with a rope to prevent a fall. Local residents quickly alerted the fire force.

The rescue mission began around 3.30 PM. The tree’s immense height posed a challenge, as the ladder could reach only up to 50 feet. Firefighter K K Sharath Lal scaled the remaining height using a rope and reached Thankachan. A rescue net was then hoisted to the treetop with ropes, enabling Thankachan to be brought down safely. He was later admitted to a hospital.

Station Officer K S Omanakuttan, along with officers Binod Kumar, Aneesh Mani, C M Mahesh, K S Sharon, M K Sajumon, Binu V Menon, S Subhesh, Home Guard Jishnu Raghavan and Joyce K George, led the operation.

Thankachan later recounted that he had felt exhausted upon reaching the treetop and that thick growths of loranthus on the branches had prevented him from climbing down.