November 2, 2011
By Maki Becker, BuffaloNews.com
ALEXANDER -- A hunter was listed in serious condition today at
Erie County Medical Center with injuries suffered when he fell at
least 30 feet from a portable tree stand Tuesday evening, officials
said.
John P. Starkweather, 44, of Bethany as was deer hunting from the
tree stand in a wooded area off the south side of Gilhooly Road
Tuesday evening. He was climbing down from the stand when a branch
he was using as a step broke, Genesee County Sheriff's officials
said.
Starkweather fell to the ground, then called 911 from his cell
phone.
Sheriff's officials said the injured hunter wasn't able to give his
location but dispatchers pinpointed where he was using his cell
phone's GPS locator.
Members of the Alexander Fire Department rescued Starkweather
from the woods. He was airlifted by Mercy Flight to ECMC.
Fair Use Notice: This document may contain copyrighted material
whose use has not been specifically authorized by the copyright owners. We believe
that this not-for-profit, educational use on the Web constitutes
a fair use of the copyrighted material (as provided for in section
107 of the US Copyright Law). If you wish to use this copyrighted
material for purposes of your own that go beyond fair use, you must
obtain permission from the copyright owner.
