Treestand Accident

[jkm97]

Well, after more than 20 years of hanging and hunting from treestands, I had a serious accident yesterday. After putting up 24' of ladder, I hung the gorilla lock on. I had to take off my line mans belt to reattach when climbed onto the platform. When stepped onto it, the rubber coated wires that hold the platform to the seat/frame each snapped, sending me crashing down. My left leg took the brunt of it, breaking my pelvis in three places.

So I write this from my hospital room, looking at 6-8 weeks of recovery. Luckily that'll still leave me about two months to get my form back down before bowseason starts.

Wear you harnesses guys. I always do, but that quick detach cost me, which means I have to find a new way.

[Bjorn]

Ouch! Wish you a good recovery.      

[jkm97]

Thanks

[jkm97]

I feel like a real fool. I've always been arrogant in a tree, having no fear of heights and being agile and strong, always assuming I could catch myself if something did go wrong. But it happened so fast there was nothing to catch, and I hit before I could even slow myself down by grabbing the tree or limbs.

[PaPaFrank]

Wow I'm really sorry to hear that. I hope you have quick recovery.

[wingnut]

Sounds like a double warning.  Do not detach from your life line at any time.  AND maintain your treestands.  How many years since the cables were replaced?

Heal fast!  

Mike

[STICKBENDER98]

Glad to hear you're still with us to tell about it.  Prayers be with you, good luck and hope you have a speedy recovery.  Just goes to show, no matter how careful we all are, accidents can and do happen.  Get well soon.

Jason

[Ric O'Shay]

Your injuries were bad, but could have been much worse. Hope you have a speedy recovery. 24 feet up? Wow! I'd get a nose bleed.

[jkm97]

Originally posted by wingnut:
Sounds like a double warning.  Do not detach from your life line at any time.  AND maintain your treestands.  How many years since the cables were replaced?

Heal fast!  

Mike

Never, the stand was only about 6 years old.

[jkm97]

Originally posted by Ric O'Shay:
Your injuries were bad, but could have been much worse. Hope you have a speedy recovery. 24 feet up? Wow! I'd get a nose bleed.

Oh I realize I'm very lucky.

[pukwana]

Sorry to hear about your accident. Get well soon!

[Steve Jr]

Wishing you a speedy recovery.

[JimB]

Real sorry to hear.Wishing you a very fast recovery.

I have been using a couple Gorilla tree stands for quite a few years and decided this year,they needed upgraded.It turns out that Gorilla no longer makes tree stands and will not sell any parts.

They looked fine but I replaced all the bolts with grade 8,zinc coated ones.I have a bench swager so I made new platform cables out of stainless,aircraft cable-no plastic coating.I have worried that those galvanized cables might sweat and rust inside that plastic and there is no way to inspect them so decided to use the bare cable.

I replaced the belt that goes around the tree with a heavy duty ratchet strap and will use a second one for back up.

My stands are way older than yours and I'm extremely lucky that I haven't had a failure.I'm kicking myself for not having done it sooner.

Hopefully your thread will serve as a very important reminder to all,to keep up maintenance on all tree stand equipment.Take care.

[finkm1]

That's why I've been replacing my hangons with ladder stands. A friends stand did the same thing and he was laid up for a long time.

[Warden609]

I wish you a quick recovery.

[Jock Whisky]

"I feel like a real fool. I've always been arrogant in a tree, having no fear of heights and being agile and strong, always assuming I could catch myself if something did go wrong. But it happened so fast there was nothing to catch, and I hit before I could even slow myself down by grabbing the tree or limbs."

You're not alone JKM97. I had a friend say pretty much the same thing when questioned about not tying in. When a member of his group fell out of his stand he said he was on the ground before he even had time to think about grabbing anything, let alone grab it. I believe they all tie in now.
There was a time when I bounced pretty good. I tend to break a lot easier now.

Here's to a speedy recovery. All the best

[Danny Rowan]

Sorry to hear that. and that is why I no longer hunt out of trees. I am way to old to take a fall like that.

[JDBerry]

My little brother fell out of a stand years ago, Broke 3 or 4 Ribs, Lucky our cousin was with Glen to get him out. Take care, Glad you made it.  ...James

[Wudstix]

Only takes an instant as you found out.  Glad you are around to tell the story and God speed on your recovery.

 

[jkm97]

Originally posted by JDBerry:
My little brother fell out of a stand years ago, Broke 3 or 4 Ribs, Lucky our cousin was with Glen to get him out. Take care, Glad you made it.  ...James

Same here. Like most of my areas, there is no phone service. I almost always hang stands alone, but yesterday my cousin was with me. He carried/drug me out if the woods (only dropping me once, lol). I have no idea what would have happened had I been alone.