Tragedy struck in rural Minnesota, June 27, when a 19-year-old tower climber fell 153 feet to his death from a cell site.
The man, identified as Jeremy Jo Froemke of Lisbon, N.D., was wearing a safety harness at the time of the accident, according to the Associated Press. He worked at Midwest Steeplejacks, based in Fargo, N.D.
Officials from the Sheriff’s office in Beltrami County, the Minnesota State Patrol, the Solway Township Volunteer Fire Department and the North Country First Responders responded at 5:50 p.m. and pronounced him dead at the scene.
The tower was located 10 miles west of Bemidji, Minn., near Lammers Township.
Froemke was born in Fargo, N.D., according to an obituary in the Ransom County Gazette, and graduated from high school in 2011, where he was active in football, basketball and choir and worked on the family farm. He was also an avid outdoorsman.
Funeral services were scheduled on July 2 at Anselm Lutheran Church in Lisbon.
It’s a shame — safety is paramount, especially for the less experienced climbers out there. What was the overall reason for the fall?
OSHA is investigating, which takes 6 months and a FOIA request to find out. It is a very opaque system. He was wearing a harness. He was very young. The accident happened late in the day, which suggests either fatigue or hurry to get down the tower. But that is just speculation. We may never know.