Warsaw Teen Injured When Tree Stand Broke
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
By Staff Report-
Clarence “Daven” Gasaway, 15, of Warsaw was hunting deer when part of his deer stand broke causing him to fall backwards and become stuck upside down in the remaining foot platform of his stand.
Gasaway was hunting with friend Scott Wharton and they were in nearby trees 24 feet off the ground approximately 15 yards apart. Gasaway was not wearing a safety restraint harness or fall arrest system of any kind.
A nearby deer hunter saw the commotion and dialed 911. Indiana Conservation Officers Jon Cook and Jon Engle responded to the scene along with North Webster Fire and EMS and the Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Department. Upon arrival officers observed Gasaway still hanging upside down. He was able to communicate to officers that he had been in this awkward position for approximately 30 minutes.
Wharton had by this time, climbed down from his tree and climbed up the tree Gasaway was in and positioned himself just to the side of Gasaway.
Officers Cook and Engle reacted quickly and 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 then arrived and raised a ladder to the tree which conservation officers secured to the tree 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 Community Hospital. Gasaway was treated for a lower left leg and ankle sprain and released.
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Clarence “Daven” Gasaway, 15, of Warsaw was hunting deer when part of his deer stand broke causing him to fall backwards and become stuck upside down in the remaining foot platform of his stand.
Gasaway was hunting with friend Scott Wharton and they were in nearby trees 24 feet off the ground approximately 15 yards apart. Gasaway was not wearing a safety restraint harness or fall arrest system of any kind.
A nearby deer hunter saw the commotion and dialed 911. Indiana Conservation Officers Jon Cook and Jon Engle responded to the scene along with North Webster Fire and EMS and the Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Department. Upon arrival officers observed Gasaway still hanging upside down. He was able to communicate to officers that he had been in this awkward position for approximately 30 minutes.
Wharton had by this time, climbed down from his tree and climbed up the tree Gasaway was in and positioned himself just to the side of Gasaway.
Officers Cook and Engle reacted quickly and 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 then arrived and raised a ladder to the tree which conservation officers secured to the tree 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 Community Hospital. Gasaway was treated for a lower left leg and ankle sprain and released.
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