In a controversial move, Indian officials shook down a coconut tree to bring down a man who tragically died on its top.

Ganesan, 53, of Kanchanur village near Krishnagiri in South India had climbed the tree to pluck coconuts when he suffered a heart-attack and died while still perched on top.

Villagers called fire brigade which arrived promptly but realised that they didn’t have a tall ladder to bring him down.

As the dead man’s family watched they brought in a digger and shook up the tree forcefully making the man drop down the tree.

Their controversial move left many seething.

A local villager Natesan, 34, said: "They should have shown more respect to the dead man and made arrangements for a ladder.”