Nathaniel Heatherly dies in fatal Puyallup tree branch accident
Fatal Puyallup tree branch accident death of Nathaniel Heatherly
A man from Puyallup died after being struck by a large tree during a trick-or-treat event at McKenna Park last weekend. Nathaniel Heatherly, aged 31, succumbed to multiple blunt-force injuries on October 25 near the 35000 block of State Route 507. The Pierce County Medical Examiner’s Office has officially classified his death as an accident.
Local news reports indicate the incident was a “horrific freak accident” triggered by powerful winds at approximately 1:02 p.m. The tree fell heavily onto several concession stalls, endangering multiple attendees and ultimately resulting in Heatherly’s death.
Emergency responders reported that six individuals sustained injuries in the incident. Three people required hospital treatment for significant injuries, while two received care for relatively minor wounds. Approximately 40 to 80 participants were present at the Halloween gathering.
Cora Marsh, Heatherly’s girlfriend, recounted the events through a Facebook message. She, her son, and Heatherly were present for their early trick-or-treating activities. According to Marsh, she and Heatherly were positioned near one of the stalls, while her son collected candy from another.
“I yelled, ‘Run,’ and sprinted towards my son to get away, but Nate, I believe, did not hear me and was not immediately following as I had expected,” Marsh stated. Her son later reported that he hadn’t heard her warning and only took flight after perceiving the imminent tree collapse due to the intense crashing sound. Marsh noted that upon reaching relative safety, she immediately checked on Heatherly, finding him injured in the head.
“The initial section that descended killed him instantly,” Marsh explained. Due to the immediate threat of a subsequent branch falling, Marsh indicated she could not linger to check his breathing and quickly moved her son to safety. She experienced such panic during the 911 call that she handed her phone to another attendee to relay the information to dispatch.
After the falling ceased, Marsh was informed by responders that Mr. Heatherly’s survival was improbable. Fire and Rescue personnel confirmed his death upon arrival at the scene.
Marsh expressed skepticism about the wind conditions that day, believing her hair did not blow significantly. She suggested the tree might have been structurally compromised and advocated for improved park and infrastructure upkeep.
The article also noted the personal relationship between Marsh and Heatherly. They had known each other for a decade before dating for nearly two years. Marsh described Heatherly as a supportive boyfriend who was also a devoted uncle to her son. He was known for his gentleness, creative culinary skills, enjoyment of spicy cuisine, and hobbies including card games, fantasy role-playing, and video games. A son from a previous relationship was not present at the event.
