S. Carolina man, 71, killed by falling tree in the woods

LUGOFF, S.C. (AP) — A South Carolina man has died after a tree fell on him in the woods, according to an official.

Ned Lyles, 71, was cutting a tree Thursday morning when a different tree toppled over and struck Lyles on the back of his neck, Kershaw County Coroner David West said.

“He never knew what hit him,” West told The State.

It happened near Lugoff, about 30 miles (48 kilometers) northeast of Columbia. Emergency responders arrived about 15 minutes later, the coroner said, but they were unable to save Lyles.

The tree that killed Lyles was several inches around, West said, and had a notch cut out of it.