SOUTH BEND – A man was killed Friday when a tree he was cutting down fell on him, police said.

About 5:41 p.m., Portage Township firefighters responded to a home in the 22900 block of West Edison Road, just west of Dickinson Middle School, where they found 79-year-old Lawrence Slater of South Bend pinned beneath the trunk of a large tree behind the home, county police spokesman Sgt. William Redman said.

Several firefighters lifted the tree off of the man, but he was already dead, Redman said.

By the way Slater was positioned beneath the tree, it appeared he had been bent over cutting it and it fell directly on his back, crushing him, Redman said.

Slater was the homeowner’s brother.

Bob Danner, a neighbor, said Slater had been cutting and splitting trees in the yard for a little more than a month, and had nearly been hit by one on a previous occasion.

According to Redman, Slater had been working in the backyard most of the day Friday. Around midday, he said, Slater went home for lunch.

Later in the afternoon, Redman said, Slater's wife went to check on him after he never returned home. She found him beneath the tree and called police.

Danner said he had been home since about 1:30 p.m. and never heard a thing. He said about 3 p.m. he saw the homeowner and his wife drive off, leaving Slater alone in the backyard.

The spot where the tree fell on the man was about 100 yards behind the home, on the outskirts of a sparse grove of tall trees.

Redman said the tree was large enough that a deputy on the scene could not quite get his arms around it.

Staff writer Erin Blasko: eblasko@sbtinfo.com (574) 235-6187