Hello everyone, this is Dale. I just wanted to do a write up and an update to a very unfortunate accident I had on 9-17-11. Seth and I went out very early that morning to hang one last set of stands on a new property we got. Seth was filming that morning as I was doing the tree climbing. I had my harness on and was using the lineman's belt that came with it. About 8:00 that morning I was 22ft in the air and working on the last stand when all of a sudden I heard a "tink" sound and everything let loose. I tried to grab for everything and anything I could to save me from falling but that didn't work. I fell 22ft upside down to the ground. One of the screw in tree steps slashed my right calf open really good tearing and exposing the muscle. I also suffered a 5 inch cut on the left side of my head from my temple straight back cutting through all muscle layers but the last one to my skull. This cut came from my head hitting my tree saw I had hanging half way down the tree. I did not black out or go into shock at all during this fall. I distinctly remember as I was falling upside down looking behind me and seeing the ground quickly approaching and thought to my self "I'm dead". I remember hitting the ground and landing on my head/left shoulder area and I remember that it did not hurt one bit. After I landed the most unreal pain I have ever felt in my life was coming from my leg being ripped open. I instantly thought it was broken but when I looked at it and it was straight I knew it wasn't. It was at that time I knew I had a serious cut on my head due to the amount of blood I was loosing. I instantly went into survival mode and just knew Seth and I had to stop the bleeding. We were able to get that under control until the paramedics arrived.
I am writing this not to get a woe is me post going, but to bring all glory to God for his protection that morning. I was doing everything safe but accidents can still happen. I can't find the other buckle that was attached to the linemans belt so I still am not sure what went wrong. All I know is I fell 22ft upside down to the ground, I suffered a little on the way down, but I can honestly say I have no broken bones and no internal injuries.
We had the camera rolling, but it was not on me at the time. However, I did have the wireless mic on and it captured everything...and I mean everything. From me falling, to Seth praying over me, to the 911 operator and the paramedics coming down the road. I let a few people listen to it and the first words out of their mouths were "chilling".
Folks, whether your hanging stands or season is over and your taking them down, please please please wear your harness and have someone else out there with you. We all try to be as safe as we can, but some don't. If your reading this take all of this to heart. Do everything you can, even if it's a pain, but do everything you can to protect yourself at all times. I hope none of you ever have to go through this, thats why I am letting you know what happened to me. This could of ended so much worse , my boys could of lost their dad that morning, my wife her husband and my parents their son...but they didn't! Right now I am able to walk without crutches, very little but I can do it, just taking it day by day.
I am writing this not to get a woe is me post going, but to bring all glory to God for his protection that morning. I was doing everything safe but accidents can still happen. I can't find the other buckle that was attached to the linemans belt so I still am not sure what went wrong. All I know is I fell 22ft upside down to the ground, I suffered a little on the way down, but I can honestly say I have no broken bones and no internal injuries.
We had the camera rolling, but it was not on me at the time. However, I did have the wireless mic on and it captured everything...and I mean everything. From me falling, to Seth praying over me, to the 911 operator and the paramedics coming down the road. I let a few people listen to it and the first words out of their mouths were "chilling".
Folks, whether your hanging stands or season is over and your taking them down, please please please wear your harness and have someone else out there with you. We all try to be as safe as we can, but some don't. If your reading this take all of this to heart. Do everything you can, even if it's a pain, but do everything you can to protect yourself at all times. I hope none of you ever have to go through this, thats why I am letting you know what happened to me. This could of ended so much worse , my boys could of lost their dad that morning, my wife her husband and my parents their son...but they didn't! Right now I am able to walk without crutches, very little but I can do it, just taking it day by day.
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