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Autopsy Released In Area Tree Stand Hunting Death
October 21, 2009
An Escambia County (Ala.) man died Sunday evening when he fell out of a tree stand.
Autopsy results released Tuesday confirmed that Todd Burgess, 39, of Brewton, died from blunt force trauma when he fell from the tree stand and struck the ground. The accident happened about 7 p.m. Sunday on Hoomesville Road in the Damascus community of Escambia County, Ala.
Burgess, a native of Jay, had killed a deer with a bow and arrow from the stand. He called his wife, who was hunting on a nearby food plot, to let her know that he was headed down to retrieve the deer, according to Mike Lambert, Escambia County (Ala.) chief deputy. When he did not arrive at the wife’s location, his brothers began to look for him and found him dead, Lambert said. He had apparently fallen about 15 feet.
Lambert said it appeared that a pin that secured the tree stand to the tree had come loose. He said the pin was found unbroken and undamaged at the base of the tree.
“It appeared that it had worked itself out, and when he started down, it fell,” Lambert said. “It was all a tragic accident.”
Lambert said that hunters should use a safety harness when using a tree stand for added safety. The harnesses, he said, sell for as little as about $80.
“That $80 is a cheap insurance policy,” he said.
Burgess is survived by his wife Carrie Burgess and two daughters, Katherine Brynn, 7, and Emily Nicole, 16 months.Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Friday at the Jay First Assembly of God Church.
A fund for the children has been established at the Santa Rosa Federal Credit Union.
Comments
9 Responses to “Autopsy Released In Area Tree Stand Hunting Death”
THIS IS SAD TO HEAR WITH THE HOLLIDAYS AND ALL COMING UP LETS ALL PRAY FOR THE FAMILY
My prayers are with the whole family.
Thanks for running this story, William. Hunting season is here and everyone who climbs into a stand needs to think about what could happen. Tree stands are not foolproof – I found that out the hard way when I fell twelve feet to the ground in a climber that was supposed to be safe. I escaped with broken ribs and a broken rifle scope – I was blessed.
One pin is all that stands between you and death when you use any kind of climber. Please check your equipment each time you enter and exit your stand – and above all WEAR A HARNESS! This man could still be with his family if he had done that.
My prayers go out to his family and friends.
My prayers are with his family. Don’t let this tragedy happen again.
PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE! Teach ALL hunters, Adults, Kids or whomever to use a SAFTEY HARNESS. I’m 50 years old and was saved from a 25-30 fall last hunting season by a standard issue Harness which comes with all tree stands today!
It’s sad he died, and my thoughts are with the family. It should serve as a lesson to all of us to use a harness.
The newer tree stands have two or more pins. I guess he was using an old one.
Please use your safety harness when climbing up or down your tree. I know its slow and makes extra noise but it will save your life one day. We’ve all done this many times including myself, take time to be safe.
I’m so sorry to hear this. My prayers are with his family. God Bless you all and keep you.