Saddle Death… Stay safe out there.

[WISCO]

Prayers for his Family.

 

[rhagenw]

The way people attach aiders to their feets is the first scenario that I could thing of that could easily flip u over and have u bound up not allowing u to easily right urself or a blow to the head from a higher branch break and fall or a slip that makes u accidentally headbutt the trunk

I stop using those style aider due to having a stick kick out using the buckle less method, now I'm back to cam buckles on sticks and only a two step aider on bottom stick. That scared the s*** out of me. And cannot recommend either method

 

[Blacksmith]

Sure makes you wonder about all the gear we use. I think I'm liking my pac seat more & more.

 

[Blacksmith]

This statement baffles me… are you saying a pac seat cannot go inverted when you hang from a tether? Lmao

I can invert it but even an ole guy like me can get upright, if no ones watching...Takes me a minute to get upright, but no need for an aider or a knife.........

 

[Fl Canopy Stalker]

I can invert it but even an ole guy like me can get upright, if no ones watching...Takes me a minute to get upright, but no need for an aider or a knife.........

I deleted my comment due to the sincerity of this post but I agree, and I’ve even went inverted on my bucket a time or two

 

[parkersdad]

I read the post from his wife this morning as well. So sad. I’ve already been thinking about something like this, but this makes me think even harder. If a stick breaks and you’re using a lineman‘s belt you’re going to rip yourself up or possibly go upside down. I love my JX3 Hybrid but my but if I’m in a tree stand, the stand hast to break and my rock climbing harness and tether have to break. There are two things that have to happen instead of one. In my stand, I keep my tether tight. For some reason that makes me feel more comfortable.


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[parkersdad]

And for the record, I fell 18 feet off of a roof a few years ago and had to have multiple surgeries on my left arm. I think about this stuff a lot more now than I used to. Sometimes hanging from a carabiner I get anxiety.


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[BuffaloBill]

I read the post from his wife this morning as well. So sad. I’ve already been thinking about something like this, but this makes me think even harder. If a stick breaks and you’re using a lineman‘s belt you’re going to rip yourself up or possibly go upside down. I love my JX3 Hybrid but my but if I’m in a tree stand, the stand hast to break and my rock climbing harness and tether have to break. There are two things that have to happen instead of one. In my stand, I keep my tether tight. For some reason that makes me feel more comfortable.


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People don’t like when I point out some of the safety risks using a saddle vs a tree stand with a harness. Especially with removing leg straps and some of the dangerous climbing methods used. Suspension trauma is a real thing but I like my odds being upright rather than inverted with blood rushing to my head. Once you are unconscious you are screwed unless someone walks upon you and can get you upright. Not easy to do if your 20+ foot up in a tree. Hunting is a hobby and shouldn’t leave your wife widowed and/or your kids fatherless.

 

[hokiehunter373]

She posted this: "we do not know for sure. Autopsy said he had no injuries and no sign of a health crisis like a heart attack or stroke. He just somehow got flipped when lowering himself down. He was not tangled in the rope or anything either. It appears to be a freak accident. My hope by sharing is awareness. If sharing in the 3 groups Dane was in can save one of you from the same thing then it's worth it"

 

[Fl Canopy Stalker]

She posted this: "we do not know for sure. Autopsy said he had no injuries and no sign of a health crisis like a heart attack or stroke. He just somehow got flipped when lowering himself down. He was not tangled in the rope or anything either. It appears to be a freak accident. My hope by sharing is awareness. If sharing in the 3 groups Dane was in can save one of you from the same thing then it's worth it"

So she specified no heart attack or stroke. Perhaps lack of oxygen from inverted suspension. I just want to know, which saddle and which climbing/descending method. That would help a ton with figuring out potential weaknesses and dangers.

 

[Fl Canopy Stalker]

This was shared with Mrs Purcell’s permission.
Guys this is a go fund me page his wife created to help out with expenses, funeral costs and their family: I know it’s hunting season as well as tight times with inflation but I am asking everyone dig deep and try to donate. If it were any of you, you would want to know your fellow hunters and friends would be generous and help your family out:

Donate to Memorial fund, organized by Jackie Purcell

Hello My name is Jackie Purcell. Pictured is my husband Dane. All of this is something I never thoug… Jackie Purcell needs your support for Memorial fund

www.gofundme.com

 

[HuumanCreed]

She posted this: "we do not know for sure. Autopsy said he had no injuries and no sign of a health crisis like a heart attack or stroke. He just somehow got flipped when lowering himself down. He was not tangled in the rope or anything either. It appears to be a freak accident. My hope by sharing is awareness. If sharing in the 3 groups Dane was in can save one of you from the same thing then it's worth it"

Ok I have not try this so maybe it will be sometime I'm going to try at ground level. If you suddenly ragdoll yourself, do you flip upside down in your saddle? Let say you forgot to eat or hydra or simple got sleepy. In a 'standard' 1 piece saddle, do you flip upside down, and worse case scenario hit your head against the tree at 6 o'clock? Or hit your head on the platform/ROC/stick?

I have practiced slipping from sticks or platform. But never the case of unconciousness.

 

[elk yinzer]

Terrible. Rest in peace, and may the family find the strength to get through these terrible times.

Definitely looking for anything we can learn as a community. I'm pretty careful with this stuff, fear of heights and a young family. I've tried to invert myself and I can't. Different centers of gravity, different gear, who knows? Maybe got snagged or a friction hitch jammed up and panicked? I do know rope access and rappelling done properly is safe, but anything at height still has significant inherent dangers and a lot that can go wrong. A lot of people are doing this stuff with facebook and youtube training and with different skills, abilities, gear, and circumstances. It's pretty much inevitable that tragedies like this will happen, unfortunately.

 

[Empostarr]

Due to this tragedy, has anyone actually gone out and practiced self rescuing from an inverted position? If so, what worked for getting upright? I plan on trying it from both my tether and my climbing rope to see how each changes how easy it is to go inverted, as well as how to get upright again.

 

[Fl Canopy Stalker]

Due to this tragedy, has anyone actually gone out and practiced self rescuing from an inverted position? If so, what worked for getting upright? I plan on trying it from both my tether and my climbing rope to see how each changes how easy it is to go inverted, as well as how to get upright again.

I show it at events and show a couple of self rescue ideas to get upright however none of that will help if you’re severely hurt from a fall or unconscious. It’s important to practice and plan for worst case but be realistic that some things are beyond our control

 

[Vtbow]

Due to this tragedy, has anyone actually gone out and practiced self rescuing from an inverted position? If so, what worked for getting upright? I plan on trying it from both my tether and my climbing rope to see how each changes how easy it is to go inverted, as well as how to get upright again.

Lots of strategies. I always carry a double length sewn sling. This can create a simple chest harness, which then a z-drag and process capture could easily be built to haul yourself upright with 0 use of your legs. being prepared and knowing how to use the least amount of mechanical gear is the most important thing. I always have found gear which has multiple uses is the best to have around.

 

[hokiehunter373]

What I don't understand is that he was able to let another hunter in the area know that he was not ok but he was not able to get himself upright. Just doesn't make sense to me

 

[gcr0003]

Someone mentioned it’s hard to get turn upside down. While I agree, I do think there are things that increase your odds of flipping upside down. Standing straight up and down the center of gravity of typical human is at or a little above the waist. This CG will move as you move your arms legs and body in different positions. If you’re overweight your center of gravity will be higher (proportional to how much you’re overweight), making you more top heavy with respect to your attachment point. If you are overweight and carry a backpack of gear, you’re going to be even that much more top heavy. We are tied in at the waist, and weight above that is adding to how top heavy we are. Center of gravity always wants to be directly below the hanging point. So, if the center of gravity is above the waist and you get turned side ways, the weight is going to pull you the rest of the way upside down, and as you go upside down it is going to be increasingly difficult to right your self. If you are rope climbing and unable grab or touch the tree, and if you’re not in shape enough to do a crunch up to grab the rope at a point above your attachment point, you will be unable to self right yourself.

If you have a backpack full of gear of significant weight 10-20lbs, losing that could make a difference, making it easier to right yourself.

I think throwing your legs down and crunching at the same time could help swing yourself enough to grab the rope above you.

I’ve fooled around with this self righting myself a couple times from a saddle and I’m able to right myself, but I’m lanky, in decent shape, and young.

Just some concepts to think about.

I wonder if a sling attached to your caribiner that falls a little past waste height could be used to right yourself. If would have to be there at all times when climbing though. It could run parallel to one side of your bridge and hang through a bridge loop. To be accessible but out of the way.

 

[Jrain904]

Very sad, sending prayers.

Call me inexperienced but I genuinely wonder how you can become inverted if using a saddle and platform with tether and use a linesman for ascending/decending using sticks. Is this something that I legitimately need to be concerned about? Thanks.

 

[Fl Canopy Stalker]

What I don't understand is that he was able to let another hunter in the area know that he was not ok but he was not able to get himself upright. Just doesn't make sense to me

He seemed to be shorter and possibly overweight in photos. Some guys don’t have the physical ability to get themselves back up. Some can’t climb 2TC or one stick because of their physical limits. It’s why companies say you must be fit and able to climb and hunt from elevation. It’s also why practice is important. Perhaps he flagged someone walking past him? Or could get his phone out of a dump pouch pocket but wasn’t able to pull himself back upright. Again all of this is speculation. It’s sad and I hope we will all use this to recognize dangers and take them more seriously. It was brought to my attention that on top of one sticking he was also a fan of JRB’s climbing system. Not sure which he was using when the accident happened but I definitely would like details so that we can all use this to make all of us safer.