A daughter found her father dead after he went to trim trees and failed to return in Drumkeen yesterday.
Garda Supt Vincent O'Brien - "A tragic accident"
The dead man has been named locally as father-of-four Norman Frizzell who died after suffering injuries on land close to his home.
Mr Frizzell, 66, was using a chainsaw and may have accidentally fatally injured himself while using the machinery.
Mr Frizzell, a well-known mechanic, was married with four grown-up children and was hugely-respected in the locality.
His only son Mark worked in the family garage along with his father.
It is not clear exactly what happened but the victim sustained injuries to his neck as a result of the incident.
He had gone to cut trees at 12.30pm in lands near his home at Augheygault and was found dead at 2pm by a daughter.
An investigation has been launched to discover how exactly the man died.
Emergency services rushed to the scene but it is understood that Mr Frizzell died at the scene.
Locals in the close-knit village have been left stunned by the man’s tragic death.
The dead man’s wife Sheila and his children were last night being comforted at their home.
One local said “Norman was one of the hardest-working men you will ever meet.
“You would find the light on in his garage at all hours of the day and night because he was always working.
“This is such a tragedy. He never had a cross word for anyone and took so much pride in his work and helping people.
“It just doesn’t seem fair that something like this has happened.”
The accident comes less than two days after another tragedy claimed another man’s life less than fifteen miles away.
Luke Peeks, 26, was killed on Christmas day when his car left the road and ended up in a field close to nearby Stranorlar.
Garda Supt Vincent O’Brien described Mr Frizzell’s death as a “tragic accident.”