Tragedy Strikes Montagne-Ory: Young Man Dies in Tree Felling Accident

In a tragic incident in Montagne-Ory on Saturday, September 7, 2024, Chris Raumayaa, a 28-year-old resident of Belle-Rose, lost his life after being crushed by a fallen tree during a tree-felling operation. Chris was with friends at a wooded area known as “La Terre Coupé,” where they had gathered to cut wood for additional income.

Chris Raumayaa was known to be a hardworking young man with dreams and ambitions. Recently, he had transitioned from the hospitality industry to start his own catering business, seeking a fresh start for his health and career.

On the fateful day, he went into the woods with friends to earn some extra money, a task he had undertaken several times to support his new venture.

Tragedy struck around 3 PM when an accident occurred while they were cutting down a tree.

As Chris worked, the tree unexpectedly fell, pinning him underneath its weight. Despite the immediate assistance of his friends, Chris did not survive the injuries he sustained in the accident.

The subsequent autopsy, performed by Dr. Ananda Sunnassee, confirmed that the cause of death was traumatic asphyxia.

The news of Chris’s passing has left his family devastated. His funeral service took place on the afternoon of Sunday, September 8, 2024, with his burial held at the Saint-Martin Cemetery in Mont-Roches.

Harris Raumayaa, Chris’s father, shared the painful details of the days leading up to the tragedy, stating that three days before the accident, Chris had informed him of his plans to gather wood with friends.

Harris noted that his son was trying to earn some money to support his newly established catering business.

“His friends were with him. They slipped, and the tree fell on them,” Harris recounted, expressing disbelief and sorrow over the sudden loss.

An acquaintance of Chris broke the news to his father. “A friend was there and reported what happened. They came to the house to tell us,” Harris said.

Upon hearing of the accident, Harris rushed to the hospital, where he was asked to identify Chris before the autopsy.

The anguish was exacerbated by his concerns about the lack of safety precautions taken during the operation.

“My son was an amateur. They did not provide him with any safety equipment,” he lamented.

This issue is expected to be investigated by the Moka police as part of their inquiry into the incident.

As of Sunday, Harris had not yet spoken to the friends who were present during the accident. Dylan L., a 30-year-old carpenter who was with Chris at the time, informed authorities that while they were cutting the tree, it fell unexpectedly, and they had no time to escape.

He managed to get up and call for emergency services, although he and another 63-year-old friend from Belle-Rose sustained injuries in the incident.

The older friend is currently hospitalized at Dr. A.G. Jeetoo and is reported to be recovering.

The Moka police will continue their investigation and will be gathering statements from those involved in the incident as they seek to clarify the circumstances surrounding this tragic event.

Source: Defi Media