The Tri-County Journal
& Chattahoochee Chronicle
PO Box 850, 71 Webb Lane
Buena Vista, GA 31803
229-649-6397
tjournal@alltel.net
Visit the Home page, for a list of headlines from THIS WEEK'S newspaper.
injuries after falling from stand
By RICHARD HARRIS
(From the November 29, 2006 issue)
A visiting hunter suffered life-threatening injuries after falling out of a tree stand last Saturday, Nov. 25, but local emergency workers responded in a timely fashion in difficult circumstances to save the man’s life.
The hunter, whose name was not released, apparently landed face-first on a large root at the base of a tree, breaking the bones in his face and both arms, as well as causing internal injuries.
His hunting partners grew concerned when he didn’t return from the woods near the end of the day, so they walked into the woods and found him lying on the ground. They had no cell reception at the site, so rushed back nearer the road where they could call for help, which they did around 7:35 p.m.
Terry Roberts of the Marion County EMS was the first responder to arrive at the scene, followed soon by coworkers Jerry Anthony, Cynthia Bentley and EMS Director Terry Whaley. The accident scene was about 2 ½ miles from the road, with the last mile having to be traveled on foot.
The Marion County Sheriff’s Office, the Draneville Volunteer Fire Department, and the Game Warden’s Office also responded, and an ATV was used to transport the injured man to a field where the ambulance had been driven as close as possible to the accident site.
Local emergency personnel began treatment and stabilized the hunter as they awaited the arrival of a helicopter from Life Safer Air Ambulances in Opelika, Alabama. Since night was falling, officers of the Sheriff’s Office
The man was flown to the Medical Center in Columbus. He has since been transferred to a hospital in Birmingham, but was still in serious condition.
EMS Director Terry Whaley said he was proud of how the local agencies handled the situation.
“I can’t express enough gratitude for my crew for getting the patient stabilized and ready for transport, as well as for the Sheriff’s Office and the Draneville Fire Department, because we wouldn’t have been able to do it without them,” said Whaley.