Athens firefighter killed off duty in tree-trimming accident

ATHENS, Ga. (AP) – An Athens firefighter is dead after he was injured in a tree-trimming accident.

The Athens Banner-Herald reports firefighter Matt Hughes was killed Monday. Athens-Clarke County Fire and Emergency Services said in a statement that Hughes was helping a friend trim trees when a limb fell and struck him.

The statement posted on the fire department’s Facebook page Tuesday said Hughes was off duty at the time and called his death a “tragic accident.”

The fire department said Hughes died after he was taken to Northeast Georgia Medical Center in Gainesville.

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