The anguished son of a Fife man killed by a falling tree called out to warn him just seconds before tragedy struck.
However, Norman Robertson could only watch in horror as his beloved father, also Norman, was crushed by the tree at Brigton Farm near St Andrews.
The pair were working together felling trees at the site when the incident occurred on Saturday morning. Mr Robertson senior, who was 67 and from Springfield, died as a result of his injuries.
His distraught wife Joyce is being comforted by family members. She described her husband of 42 years as “loving” and “hard working.”
Mr Robertson, a father of three, had spent all his life working in the timber industry. His wife paid tribute to him on Monday, saying, “Norman was a loving husband and father. He worked hard throughout his life to provide for his family. We are all struggling to come to terms with his passing at this time.”
Mr Robertson had been working alongside his son at the farm around three miles south of St Andrews. The pair were cutting trees at the site when Mr Robertson junior saw one of the trees beginning to topple toward his father. He screamed at his dad to get out of the way but it was too late. He then alerted the emergency services but there was nothing they could do.
A police spokesman confirmed that they had been called to Brigton Farm shortly before 10am on Saturday. He said there are no suspicious circumstances surrounding Mr Robertson’s death. “It is being treated as a tragic accident.”
As is the case with all such incidents, a report has been submitted to the procurator fiscal in Cupar. Police have also informed the Health and Safety Executive (HSE).
When contacted by The Courier, a spokeswoman for the HSE said the organisation was “aware” of the incident. It is understood inspectors visited the site on Monday to carry out their own inquiries and determine whether or not to open an investigation.
Mr Robertson is survived by his wife Joyce, two daughters, his son Norman and three grandchildren.