A 67-year-old man clearing snow from his roof fell to his death in Mutsu, Aomori Prefecture, police said Sunday.
According to police, the incident occurred at around 6:30 p.m. Saturday. Fuji TV reported that the man, identified as Kazuo Tate, told his family members that he was going up onto the roof to clear snow. His body was found lying on the ground about 30 minutes later.
He was taken to hospital where he was pronounced dead, police said.
The Japan Meteorological Agency said the region had experienced around 24 cms of snowfall on Saturday.
Police said Tate's death was the first snow-related fatality reported in Aomori Prefecture so far this winter.
© Japan Today
13 Comments
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T-Mack
Rest in Peace Kazuo, We can never be to careful, as we get older best intentions can be fatal...RIP
paulinusa
This happens much too often.
Chris McMillan
must not of been too much snow on the ground....
iceshoecream
My uncle died the same way.
gelendestrasse
Sad. It does happen too often.
Mirai Hayashi
Here we go....old people trying to do stupid things again...we will also get a rise in deaths from choking accidents next.
garymalmgren
Here we go....old people trying to do stupid things again...we will also get a rise in deaths from choking accidents next.
Mirai. When you hear the house creaking and cannot open some doors you KNOW that it is time to remove the snow from the roof. So Tate san was not doing a stupid thing by trying to remove the snow. However, he could have been careless. There are regular seminars held by local community groups (cho-nai-kai) that teach and recommend safe proceedures.
1. Don't do it alone. If you fall into a snow plie upside down you will be smothered before you can get out.
2. Use a lifeline that goes across to the other side of the roof. If you slip you will not actually fall off the roof. And so on.
It is true that most people who die this way are old and live alone in isolated areas. I remember that an 87 year old lady died in Akita last year.
So, if you are concerned there are various volunteer groups who go to these remote areas and remove the snow from roofs. I am sue that they would welcome extra hands.
Tessa
And we're off (weary sigh).
Roten
Pretty dark at 6:30 pm these days, especially for such an old man to be out on the roof.
JeffLee
A rash of these happens every winter. Perhaps better building standards are needed.
nath
Should have been wearing a helmet
almxxx
All roofs should be high, peaked roofs on which nothing but dust can settle.They should also be shingled with reflective shingles.
Mirai Hayashi
garymalmgren
Climbing up onto an icy roof at any age is really dumb let alone at 67 year olds. It happens all the fricken time with these old timers. A typhoon blows down the antenna on the roof, so they have the need to climb up they during a typhoon and fix it. No common sense. He could have called professionals to shovel the snow off for him, which would have been the wisest move. Or if he absolutely had to do it himself, should should have used safety equipment like ropes and bungees to make sure he is secure, or had someone else go up there with him. This is your own fricken life, it only make sense to take precaution before attempting things like this.