SHELBYVILLE, Ind. – Indiana Conservation Officers are investigating a tree stand accident that occurred Wednesday afternoon in Shelby County. Officers were dispatched to the area near the 4800 Block of North County Road 575E at around 4:45 p.m.
Initial investigation revealed that Timothy Balting, 46, of Shelbyville, fell approximately 15-20 feet while attempting to move his hang-on tree stand. Despite his injuries, the man was able to use his cell phone to call for medical assistance. He was transported by local EMS to IU Health Methodist Hospital with back, arm, and pelvis injuries.
Balting was wearing a full-body safety harness at the time of the accident, but it was not affixed to the tree.
Conservation Officers remind hunters using elevated platforms to always wear a full body harness, use a tree stand’s safety rope, never try to put up or remove a tree stand by themselves, and always inspect their tree stand before climbing it.
