Verulam man, 74, falls to death while cutting jackfruit from tree

A 74-year-old Verulam man fell to his death while trying to harvest jackfruit from his tree.

Valaithum “George” Moodley, a former Packo pickle manufacturer employee, from Maple Drive, Trenance Park, was in the process of cutting a jackfruit when he fell.

Reaction Unit South Africa spokesman Prem Balram said they had been called out to scene to assist.

“According to his wife, George had used a ladder to reach the upper portion of his tree to cut the jackfruit from a tree in their backyard. It is believed the ladder slipped resulting in the pensioner being catapulted over the fence. The family said he also suffered from vertigo which caused him to be unstable at times. The exact cause of his death could not be confirmed,” said Mr Balram.