Brentwood man hit by branch while pruning

A man pruning a tree at his home in Brentwood had to be airlifted to Stony Brook University Medical Center Monday after he was struck by a falling branch, police said.

The man's identity was not released. Suffolk County police said he suffered broken ribs and minor scrapes.

The incident occurred at 9:38 a.m. at a home on 8th Street.

Police said the man was on a ladder, pruning a tree with a chain saw, when a man helping him said he thought the branch being cut was going to fall.

The man with the chain saw, identified only as a resident of the home, started down the ladder but still was at least three feet off the ground when the branch fell, striking him, police said. The force of the impact knocked the man off the ladder and to the ground, causing the injuries, police said. Police said when emergency responders arrived the man was "conscious and responsive."