David Vaughn’s death ruled accidental

After an autopsy today, Oconee Coroner Karl Addis has ruled the death of David Wayne Vaughn accidental.  The cause of death, Addis said this afternoon, was due to positional asphyxiation.  Addis released this account of the death investigation Monday at rural 302 Holly Lane near Walhalla.  “The autopsy also showed Mr. Vaughn to have signs of dehydration and a minor head injury; the minor head injury was consistent and most probably occurred from a falling limb.   These two events could have altered his ability to self-rescue himself.  Mr. Vaughn, as previously reported, was cutting and trimming a tree on private property; he had cut upper branches and limbs of the tree.  Mr. Vaughn was working at this site alone. The property owner reported Mr. Vaughn’s upper leg became wedged between the forks in the tree; Mr. Vaughn eventually was able to free himself from the position after approximately 1 hour of work.  He also was able to remove his climbing spikes with the plan to rappel himself down; the property owner reported Mr. Vaughn appeared to be disoriented. A short time later, Mr. Vaughn became unresponsive while suspended by his climbing harness and rope.  His upper body arched backwards into a slightly inverted position compromising his ability to breathe.   He was found approximately 60 to 70 feet from the ground; he was lowered to the ground by rescue workers; he was assessed and found with no signs of life at approximately 1:45 pm.”