Man dies on tree-cutting job - wistv.com - Columbia, South Carolina |

Man dies on tree-cutting job

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RICHLAND COUNTY, SC (WIS) -

The Richland County Coroner has identified a man who died Tuesday afternoon while working in a tree.

Coroner Gary Watts said 52-year-old Rodney Waiters of Columbia was in a tree cutting its top on Lakeside Dr. in North Columbia when he collapsed Tuesday. Waiters' co-workers noticed he was unresponsive and called 911.

Emergency crews were called to remove Waiters from the tree.  He died at the scene.

After an autopsy conducted Wednesday, Watts said there were no signs of trauma.  Watts is awaiting the results of toxicology and other tests to determine what caused Waiters' death.

Watts said work done in the tree did not contribute to his death.

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