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Tipsy Tequila-Toting Trimmer Rescued From Treetop
A tree trimmer tipsy on tequila had to be rescued Monday evening from a large Eucalyptus in Brentwood after he became stuck.
The unidentified man had been stuck for about two hours when Los Angeles Fire Department personnel came to his rescue, according to City News Service.
It took 27 firefighters using 35-foot ladders, along with ropes and harnesses, to get the man down. The rescue was complicated by heavy brush and an incline, and the man's position in his own slipped harness.
When he was back on solid ground, rescuers noted the man had a half-bottle of tequila on him. However, as NBC Los Angeles reports, authorities believe that bottle was likely closer to full before he got up in the tree in the first place:
"We were concerned about his condition because he seemed lethargic and once we got him down, we found that he had consumed a significant amount of alcohol from a bottle of tequila that he had in his work belt with him," said Battalion Chief Brian Schultz with City of Los Angeles Fire Department.
The trimmer was part of a crew hired to handle the trees in the backyard of the Brentwood home. However, when the rest of the team packed up and left for the day, this one particular worker was left up in his tree. Alternatively, as the LAFD's Schultz theorizes, it's possible the man came down with the crew, but went back up the tree on his own, then got stuck.
Once rescued, the man was taken to the hospital for an evaluation.