77-Year-Old Man Dies After Tree Falls on N.Y. Airbnb Days Before 47th Wedding Anniversary with Wife

Authorities said David and Linda Denham were packing up to leave when the tree fell on the Airbnb in upstate New York, causing debris to hit the couple

A father of two has died and his wife was hospitalized after a tree fell on the Airbnb where they were staying in upstate New York.

The two victims were at the home in Castile around 10 a.m. local time on Friday, Aug. 2, when the “extremely large tree fell through the front of the house,” according to news releases from the Wyoming County Office of Emergency Services and Sheriff’s Office.

Per the WCSO news release obtained by PEOPLE. this caused a portion of the building to collapse, trapping the two victims, identified as 77-year-olds David and Linda Denham.

The couple was reportedly “loading their vehicle” when the tree collapsed and struck the front of the residence before hitting multiple cars and power lines.

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Both David and Linda were struck by falling debris when the tree came down onto the house, according to the WCSO.

"This is insane," said neighbor Amy Ginnetti-Johnson, per ABC affiliate WKBW-TV. "The car was completely crushed. The house is completely cut in half."

Emergency officials said “multiple neighbors” helped emergency crews pull the two victims from the rubble, per emergency services.

David was transported to the Wyoming County Community Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

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Linda was hospitalized at Strong Memorial Hospital in Rochester. She only sustained minor injuries, according to an obituary for her husband.

Hospital staff said Linda has since been released, NBC affiliate WHEC-TV reported.

David and Linda were about to celebrate their 47th wedding anniversary on Aug. 15, according to David’s obituary. The couple shared two daughters and three grandchildren together.

David was a portrait artist and opera singer who once attended the Art Students League and the School of Visual Arts in New York City, per his obituary.

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He had a bachelor’s degree in political science from Indiana University, and served in the Vietnam War from 1969 to 1971.

David also worked for the Art Department of the American Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) as well as the Acorn Group, “where he created graphics for litigation.”

He later became a National Park Ranger and spent “many years” working at the Statue of Liberty and Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s home in Hyde Park.

"Our hearts go out to the loved ones of the victims of this tragedy," an Airbnb spokesperson said in a statement to PEOPLE. "Our team has reached out to those impacted to offer our support."

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A memorial service for David will be held on Aug. 17 at the Federated Church of West Winfield, which he attended, according to the obituary.

The home damaged in the Aug. 2 incident will be demolished. It is unclear what caused the tree to fall on to the house in upstate New York, but an investigation is underway.

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