November 18, 2011
By Mike Lynch, Adirondack DailyEnterprise.com
A hunter fell 25 feet out of a tree, crawled through the woods
for three hours, then called for rescuers to save him Thursday,
according to the state Department of Environmental Conservation.
Scott Cleveland, 45, of Bakers Mills was climbing into a tree
stand at about 1:20 p.m. on private property in the town of
Johnsburg in Warren County when he fell, according to a statement
from DEC spokesman Dave Winchell.
The fall resulted in significant injuries to both his ankles and
right arm, Winchell wrote. After the fall, Cleveland attempted to
use his cell phone to call for help but couldn't get service.
Determined to save himself, Cleveland crawled and dragged himself
for about a mile in a three-hour period to a place where he could
use his phone.
From there, he called a family member. The family member called
Warren County 911 who contacted DEC Dispatch in Ray Brook at 4:43
pm.
Two DEC forest rangers and personnel from Bakers Mills Fire
Department, Garnet Lake Fire Department, Johnsburg Fire Department,
Johnsburg Emergency Medical Services and Minerva Emergency Medical
Services responded.
Cleveland was stabilized and carried on a litter a quarter mile
through wet terrain and three stream crossings to Chatiemac Road at
approximately 6:30 pm.
He was transported from there to Johnsburg High School by
Johnsburg Emergency Medical Services ambulance and then airlifted to
Albany Medical Center.
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