A French father-of-three died instantly after accidentally slitting his own throat with a chainsaw while pruning trees close to his home.
The body of Gilles Laporte, 64, was found hanging off a branch in Saint-Martial-de-Nabirat, in the Dordogne, on Tuesday afternoon.
He had taken all precautions - including using a safety harness and wearing thick gloves and a visor - but somehow slipped and plunged the blade into his neck.
Mr Laporte's body was found suspended in a tree in the French village of
Saint-Martial-de-Nabirat (pictured) with the chainsaw still running on Tuesday
'He's been pruning for several days,' said Jean-Pierre Coudoumie, mayor of the village, east of Bergerac.
'The victim was cutting into a tree trunk in front of him, at the level of his face. We think the chainsaw sliced back into his throat. He died instantly.'
Mr Coudoumie said Mr Laporte had just been talking to a neighbour who could still 'hear the chainsaw spinning' after the accident.
He found Mr Laporte's body hanging from the tree in his safety harness.
Mr Coudoumie described Mr Laporte as a hugely popular figures, adding: 'He was a great sportsman who did a lot of cycling.'
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