Man rescued from fallen tree in New London Friday

By Grace King, Mt. Pleasant News

NEW LONDON ? The whirl of chain saws could be heard over the MedForce helicopter landing as a man was extracted from a fallen tree in New London on Friday, Jan. 19.

Nathan Burden, 34, was cutting down a tree by himself behind his home at Penn Ave. Unit 2643 when it fell, pinning him between the tree and the stump. Burden had a cellphone on him and called 911 at 9:13 a.m.

Ryan Wilka, New London police chief, said that Burden stayed conscious the whole time. There was a visible cut on his inner thigh. The New London Fire Department brought chain saws and officials called for a tow truck to remove the rest of the tree.

The tree was cleared by 10:25 a.m. and Burden was air lifted to the University of Iowa hospital.

Wilka said that Burden was awake and alert before he was transported to Iowa City on Friday. At this time, his condition is unknown.