A tree trimmer died after falling from a tree at a home in southern Minnesota, authorities said Friday.

Murray Perdue, 25, of Minneapolis, fell about 20 feet Thursday morning at the Lake Prairie Township home after a rotted branch that he was leaning on gave way, said Nicollet County Chief Sheriff's Deputy Karl Jensen.

"The branch was rotted on the inside, and he didn't know it at the time," Jensen said. "It's just one of those unfortunate acts of God, an unforeseen circumstance."

Jensen said that Perdue was using all of the proper safety devices at the time outside the home, about 8 miles northwest of St. Peter.

Perdue was among a crew of four from Plymouth-based Davey Tree Service and the only one in the tree when he fell, Jensen said.

PAUL WALSH