Two Ponca City tree trimmers are recovering in hospitals after surviving a roughly 45-foot fall on Sunday when a safety cable snapped during a job, leaving both brothers badly hurt and facing an uncertain road back. Emergency crews rushed in, stabilized the pair and had them airlifted to trauma centers in Wichita and Oklahoma City, while friends quickly launched a fundraiser to help with soaring medical bills.
According to KOCO, the men have been identified as brothers Isaac and Andrew Reyes. Family members told the station that Isaac suffered a broken femur, torn ligaments and severely sprained ankles, while Andrew sustained a fractured jaw and a broken nose. The brothers had already been out of work for about six weeks before the accident, and a GoFundMe has been set up by friends to help cover their mounting medical expenses.
Ponca City moves on emergency gear
At a July 13 meeting, the Ponca City Board of Commissioners approved the purchase of a Sutphen SPH100 100-foot platform aerial apparatus using public-safety tax funds, a move city documents say will bolster the fire department’s high-angle rescue capabilities. As outlined by Ponca City, the purchase and appropriation were formally recorded in the meeting minutes.
How the fall unfolded
Bystander video reviewed by the station shows a safety cable snapping and both men plunging roughly 45 feet from the tree canopy. Isaac later described hearing a “snap” and having little memory of the fall itself, according to KOCO. First responders treated and stabilized the brothers on the ground before airlifting them to specialized trauma centers in Wichita and Oklahoma City.
Community rallies with a fundraiser
Local supporters have organized a GoFundMe for the Reyes family, and a restaurant fundraiser is scheduled for July 23 to help chip away at the medical bills. The event will be hosted by Enrique’s Mexican Restaurant at the Ponca City Regional Airport. The restaurant’s site, Enrique's Mexican Restaurant, lists the address as 2213 N Waverly St., Ste. 3, along with hours and contact information for those planning to stop by.
Friends and family have asked for privacy as the brothers focus on healing, and organizers say they will share the GoFundMe link publicly for anyone who wants to help. We will update this story if officials release more details about the incident or the Reyes brothers’ condition.
