Florida Tree Trimmer Dies After He Unexpectedly Gets Pulled into Wood Chipper: 'Terrible Tragedy'

A Florida tree trimmer has died after getting caught in a wood chipper.

The tragic accident occurred at around 9:30 a.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 28 as a contracted tree trimming vendor was working at Ocean Ridge Town Hall, the Ocean Ridge Police Department announced in a Facebook post.

“Upon arrival, Ocean Ridge officers found one person had died from injuries sustained in the accident, no other individuals on scene sustained injuries,” police said. “The OSHA [Occupational Safety and Health American Society] has been notified and is in route.”

The man has not yet officially been identified though he is believed to have family members in Mexico, according to CBS 12. He was reportedly working with Carlton's Tree Service at the time of the accident.

Related: 17-Year-Old Penn. Boy Dies After Getting Pulled Into Wood Chipper While Working, Officials Say

Lynne Ladner, the Town Manager of Ocean Ridge, shared in a news conference that the landscaper went head first into the wood chipper up to his shoulders, which resulted in him being decapitated by the machine.

“The individual was working by themself doing tree trimming and feeding a wood chipper,” said Ladner, per WPTV. “Other members of the crew saw it happening and immediately again responded as did our staff and officers.”

The accident reportedly happened within 30 minutes of the victim starting work.

Ladner added that the wood chipper was built with an emergency shut-off switch, but the accident happened so quickly the man's co-workers didn't have time to activate it, reported CBS 12.

Related: Colorado Man Survives Losing Both Legs in Freak Wood Chipper Accident During First Day on the Job: 'My Coworkers Kept Me Alive'

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Local resident Debby Ritter, who was walking on the sidewalk with her husband at the time, told the outlet, "Should not happen. Should not have happened and you know, it's horrible. Shocking! Terrible tragedy.”

In their statement, the Ocean Ridge Police Department said that Boynton Beach Fire Rescue has provided grief counseling to town employees and vendor staff affected by the incident.

The town manager shared that the owner of Carlton's Tree Service is helping the victim's family with arrangements for a funeral in Mexico and in the U.S., according to CBS 12.

The investigation is ongoing.

PEOPLE has contacted the Ocean Ridge Police and the town manager for further comment at this time.

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