A Sharon man died Thursday as a result of a fall from a trailer at a Wilkes County business.

Berl Hill Wheeler, 56, of Sharon was apparently securing a tarp on a trailer at Fern Acres Farm on the Thomson Highway about 10:50 Thursday morning when he lost his balance and fell about 20 feet to the ground.

Wilkes County EMS paramedics responded to the 911 call, EMS Operations Officer Tina Bailey said. When paramedics arrived at 11:02, Wheeler was unresponsive. The paramedics treated him aggressively, transporting him to Wills Memorial Hospital and ordering a LifeFlight air ambulance for further transfer to a trauma center.

Wheeler was pronounced dead at the emergency room, Coroner Billy Hopkins said, and he arrived at the ER shortly after. The death was ruled accidental, and the cause of death was listed as a basal skull fracture.