UPDATE: Nov. 20:  Edward Wallen was pronounced dead at the hospital.   What started out with a ray of hope, in that the climber was reported as critical, turned to sadness with the notice of his passing.  ComTrain's condolences to this climber's family, as well as to the families of all of the industry's other losses.

TUCSON, AZ., Nov. 18:

A 22-year-old man is in critical condition after falling about 65 feet from a cell phone tower.

Corona de Tucson Fire Department says it happened around 12:30 p.m. on Tuesday afternoon, near Sahuarita Road and Houghton Road.

We're told he was working with one other employee when he fell from the tower. That worker says the man was wearing a safety harness but his main tether and back-up line both failed to work.

Investigators say both employees work for Wallen Communications, a tower installation company based out of Tucson and Phoenix.

Nov. 9, Corpus Chrisi, TX: (posted Nov. 18)

Matthew C. Peterson, 25, of Olympia, WA., fell 8 feet to his death. In a tragic freak accident, the top portion of a tower he was installing instruments upon fell over, crushing him because he could not get away from the piece due to being tied off. A most unusual circumstance!

Apparently, a meteorological tower was being erected on the Kenedy Ranch near C. C., and the topmost portion was due to be hoisted up once the instrumentation was affixed. We are informed that this piece was not secured to anything, but was merely a free-standing structure next to the tower being built. The intent was to install the equipment, then affix the piece to finish the tower.

When the piece started to fall, Mr. Peterson was unable to escape, going down with it due to being tied off. His partner, who was not tied off, was able to push and jump freely away from the falling piece to safety.

Mr. Peterson was employed by Global Energy Concepts of Seattle, WA., as a Field Technician.

Nov. 12, 2008:  North Dakota

Grand Forks-based Minnkota Power Cooperative is fielding bids to replace a communications tower in Walsh County that collapsed from the weight of ice during last week's storm.

The collapse severed communications with the Langdon Wind Energy Center. Nodak Electric Cooperative said it also had two antennas on the tower for radio communications.

Minnkota spokesman Mike Nisbet says the co-op has leased a temporary line to restore communication. Fixing the tower is expected to cost up to $250,000.

A Morton County communications tower also collapsed in the rain and blizzard conditions last week.

Gary D. Sivey of East Wenatchee, WA., 24, died October 23 at 2:31 in the afternoon as the result of a fall through a skylight on the roof of Kelleher Motor Company in Ellensburg, WA.

Wouldn't it be too cool to have windows installed on towers? Maybe a petition drive could be started for the cause. If windows were installed in towers, it would be easier to rescue people. If a climber has gotten him or herself in a predicament, it would be easy to get them out of their spot. Simply get the window open and bring them through it to safety, right? Well, we all know this isn't at all reality, but it would be nice to have some sort of backup plan for those climbers who do not TIE OFF while working on towers, wouldn't it? Trouble is, there IS no back up plan. If you don't tie off, you can and more than would likely die from a fall from a tower. 2008's 10th death just happened the other day, and dying climbers is something easily avoided, short of the tower itself collapsing while occupied.

They call themselves “tower rats” and they came to Auburn from around the Northwest on Thursday to celebrate the life of a Bonney Lake man – one of their own who died too soon.

The chapel at Grace Community Church was full of the men who risk their lives in a job considered one of the more dangerous in America. They erect and tend the cellular towers and antennas that dot the landscape and keep cell phones in service.

Jeremy Scott Combs, 33, fell to his death Sept. 12 while tending AT&T cellular antennas on the roof of the Elks building in Port Angeles.

Don't let YOUR spouse and/or children be the next persons standing in this position! Wear your gear and Tie Off!!