BETHEL – A 2-year-old Bethel boy was injured late Friday afternoon when he was struck by a tree being felled at the family’s house lot off Chandler Hill Road.

Samuel Bennett was flown to Maine Medical Center in Portland for treatment of head injuries, Bethel Police Chief Darren Tripp said Friday night. The youngster was with his parents, James and Robin Bennett of Vernon Street, at their house lot when the accident occurred shortly before 6 p.m., he said.

“It appears (Jim) was cutting some trees and it looks, initially, that a tree got caught up on another tree,” he said. Bennett tried to free the tree with his truck when the tree turned almost 180 degrees and landed “where you wouldn’t think it would fall.”

The tree struck the child’s head, he said.

Tripp said Bennett, a Bethel Rescue member, administered cardiopulmonary resuscitation on his son until rescue members arrived at the scene.

Rescue personnel transported the boy to the intersection of Route 26 and Chandler Hill Road where LifeFlight helicopter picked him up and flew him to Portland, he said.

Bethel Fire Department helped at the landing site, he said.

Bethel Patrolman Bradley Woodford also assisted Tripp, who is in charge of the investigation.

Tripp said the accident was extremely difficult for all involved, not only because it involved a little boy but because he is the son of a rescue member.

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