November 26, 2011
By Richard Irby, AreaWideNews.com
A Viola High School teacher is recovering at St. John's Hospital
in Springfield after being injured in a deer hunting accident.
Larry Luther, 57, was climbing down from a tree stand on his farm
on Thursday, Nov. 17, when a step nailed into the tree came loose,
causing Luther to fall to the ground.
"I had just come down from the tree when he fell," Justin Luther,
Larry's son, told The News. "Dad fell 34 feet and hit two limbs on
the way down."
According to Justin, his father was conscious but obviously
injured in the fall, so he obtained help getting his father in a
truck and out to a county road.
Luther was air flighted to Mountain Home where, after being
evaluated, he was transferred to St. John's in Springfield.
"He has a broken pelvis, a fractured hip and three broken ribs,"
said Justin. "He has been in a lot of pain when they have to move
him, but he is alert and talkative and he should start improving
after they do surgery."
The surgery was scheduled for Tuesday, Nov. 22.
Luther has been a Viola teacher for about 10 years, teaching
history and driver's education.
"He loves the kids and the people he works with," Justin said.
"Everyone has been very good to him since the accident. Our family
really appreciates all the calls, visits and prayers he has
received. The support has been overwhelming."
Luther's wife, Pat, has been with him in Springfield.
National statistics show falls from tree stands are the number
one cause of hunting accidents, responsible for up to 60 percent of
all reported injuries. Most falls result in broken bones, internal
injuries and other serious injuries requiring surgery.
The Tree Stand Manufacturers Association says professionally
built and installed tree stands should be reducing the number of
falls, but most hunters will not wear body harnesses that will keep
them safe even if they fall.
