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Last updated on Monday, December 1, 2014
(SOUTH BEND) - A hunter is in serious condition after falling out of his tree stand.
56-year-old Richard Burgess of South Bend went hunting for deer around 4 p.m. Saturday near his home on Portage Road in South Bend.
Richard told police his stand, which had been in the tree for several years, broke around 5:30 p.m. Richard was on the ground in pain for over an hour. He had multiple broken bones and other serious injuries.
Qhen Richard did not come home his wife became worried and found him lying on the ground below his tree stand calling for help around 7 p.m. Richard was transported to Memorial Hospital by South Bend Fire Department assisted by Clay Township Fire Department.
Indiana Conservation Officers are investigating the incident. It appeared that a link in the chain that was holding the tree stand up had broken sending Richard approximately twelve feet to the ground. Richard was not wearing a fall arrest system or safety harness.
Falls from tree stands are Indiana's number one cause of death while hunting. Please remember to wear your safety harness anytime you hunt from an elevated position.
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