A resident of Ti Rocher, Micoud, has tragically passed away following a tree-cutting accident on Sunday. This marks the fourth tree-related fatality in the south of Saint Lucia for the year, raising concerns about safety during such manual labour tasks.
The incident took place at Helen Estate, located just off the Vieux Fort–Micoud Highway behind a local tire shop. The victim, Matthew Ansie, also known by many in the community as “John Hollywood,” was believed to be in his late sixties.
Ansie was reportedly using a chainsaw to cut a tree when one of the branches he severed struck him on the head, causing him to lose balance and fall from a ladder. He landed on a stone, hitting his head, and sustained visible injuries with slight bleeding.
Eyewitness Lewis Edward, who was present at the time, said Ansie’s body moved slightly after the fall and that his eyes rolled back. His reaction made it immediately clear that the injuries were serious. Emergency services were contacted, and he was rushed to the hospital by ambulance, but he sadly did not survive.
The emotional impact of the accident was strongly felt by Mary Joycline Willie, the woman for whom Ansie was working at the time of the incident. She described him as a dependable, cheerful, and loyal worker who had become a part of her everyday life.
“I can’t handle it. I don’t know what I will do without him. I cried, I cried,” she said, mourning the loss of someone she called her “right-hand man.” Ansie was not just a worker—he was a friend, a helper, and someone deeply embedded in the fabric of her household.
Willie added that she could not bring herself to approach Ansie’s body after the fall. “I was frantic. I could not contain myself,” she recalled. “I looked at him from a distance while my sister and I held on to each other and cried.”
Members of the Ti Rocher community were also deeply shaken. Ansie was a well-known and respected figure, described as warm, helpful, and easygoing. His sudden passing has left a void in the community, and many are struggling to process the loss.
This tragedy highlights the dangers of manual labour, particularly among older adults engaging in physically demanding tasks without adequate support or protective measures. Calls for better safety awareness and training in rural communities are growing louder.
As the investigation into the incident continues, residents are urged to take extra precautions during tree-cutting activities, and to seek help when performing hazardous tasks. The community now mourns a man who gave his strength and spirit generously, and whose memory will not be easily forgotten.