(Provided by Indiana DNR)
A young Warsaw deer hunter is lucky to be alive after surviving a freak accident when his tree stand gave out and left him hanging upside down on the Tri County Fish and Wildlife Area in Kosciusko County last week.
Clarence "Daven" Gasaways deer stand broke causing him to fall backwards and become stuck upside down in the remaining foot platform of his stand for 30 minutes.
The quick response of local and state officials likely saved Gasaway from serious injury or even death, as hanging upside down for an extended period can cause loss of consciousness and asphyxia if left in this position for too long.
The 15-year-old Gasaway was hunting with Scott Wharton in nearby trees 24 feet off the ground, approximately 15 yards apart. Gasaway began to descend when the top portion of his climber tree stand broke causing him to be thrown backwards. Gasaway was hanging upside down with his feet and lower legs still attached to the foot platform of the stand. He was not wearing a safety restraint harness.
A nearby deer hunter heard the commotion and dialed 911. Conservation Officers Jon Cook and Jon Engle responded along with North Webster Fire and EMS and the Kosciusko County Sheriff's Department.
Gasaway told officers that he had been hanging upside down for about 30 minutes. Wharton climbed up Gasaways tree and positioned himself just to the side of Gasaway.
Officers Cook and Engle had Wharton raise a rescue rope through and across his stand then to Gasaway who secured it around his body and under his arms in case the foot platform broke. This would have prevented Gasaway from falling head first 24' to the ground.
Fire personnel raised a ladder to the tree which conservation officers secured with more rope preventing the ladder from falling in the rescue efforts. Firemen were then able to slowly lower Gasaway feet first to the ladder and then to the ground where an ambulance was waiting to transport him to Kosciusko County Hospital. Gasaway was treated for a lower left leg and ankle sprain and released.
The incident once again demonstrates the importance of wearing a safety harness attached to a tree while climbing up and down and while seated in a tree. Hunter falls from tree stands are the No. 1 hunting accident nationwide every year and is preventable by wearing a safety harness system.