Updated: Family Hunting Accident


GWSmith

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Just got a call from my Father as he entered a VA Hospital...with my Uncle Charles(a Korean War veteran as a Marine).

Yesterday hunting in West Virginia my Father and Uncle both tagged a deer. My Father was letting my Uncle hunt from his ground blind today which is on the side of a hill overlooking a large area.

As my Uncle was going up the steep incline to the blind he slipped and fell on his rifle...By the Grace of God the gun did not go off or fire!!!

My Father believes that either the scope on his rifle caught on his ribs as he fell (or my Uncle fell on something else) and thats what did some damage.

At this point, due to my Father actually entering the Hospital while talking on the cell phone, he had to disconnect the call and I do not know any more information.

What I do know is that where they were hunting is a serious trek, to get out from, in an emergency.

It's up a very large and steep hill to a flat pasture land then up the side of another hill to the ground blind....

My Father who is now 74 years old got my Uncle out to get help...God was Definitely with them both!!!

Please pray that God guides the minds and hands of the attending physicians for my Uncle Charles.

Thank You!

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Re: Family Hunting Accident

Let me make a statement here...

I was pretty emotional when I made this post and need to clarify something...especially for the new hunters out there.

My entire family practices safety in the handling of any firearms. I know the rifle was not loaded when he fell so it could not have fired!

Unless we are stalking on the ground....We never load any firearm until we are safely in our treestands or ground blinds!!!

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Re: Family Hunting Accident

[ QUOTE ]

Let me make a statement here...

I was pretty emotional when I made this post and need to clarify something...especially for the new hunters out there.

My entire family practices safety in the handling of any firearms. I know the rifle was not loaded when he fell so it could not have fired!

Unless we are stalking on the ground....We never load any firearm until we are safely in our treestands or ground blinds!!!

[/ QUOTE ]

Well said Gary and prayers sent.

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Re: Family Hunting Accident

I'm geussing here but if He was just going into my Dad's ground blind...they were doing this in the dark.

The bullets dont even come out of the backpack in the dark!!!

...Another geuss is that my Father called me after he went back up and gathered his gear he left on the hill and was returning to the hospital.

I know from hunting there with him since 1998 that theres almost Zero Cell Phone use while up on that hill.

This is the first year that I have not been able to go and I've been allowing it to eat me up with concern over my Fathers safety...then to have this happen crazy.gif

I KNOW I'll be going next year for Sure!

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Update: Family Hunting Accident

The doctors are reccomending surgery.

He has severe difficulty breathing and multiple crushed/broken ribs.

He did fall on his rifles scope but the rifle was unloaded. He was leaving the ground blind to walk around a bit and fell going downhill. The rifle slipped off and around from his shoulder and got in front of him by the time he landed. He then flipped over a few times before coming to a stop.

There are ropes to hold onto for safety going into and out of the blind but he lost his grip on them.

I think it's that U.S. Marine in him but my Uncle is one tough character without a doubt...he had my Dad help him but he walked all the way out to the truck shocked.gif

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Guest HaDeRonDa

Re: Update: Family Hunting Accident

I know I just got off the phone with you and I will pass the info on to Dave tomorrow morning when I bring him some supplies. He's in the deep woods again. I failed to mention that he told me to say hi and good luck tomorrow if you do hunt.

But, Prayers are in order from this house for a speedy recovery for your uncle Charles.

Charles, get wll soon. You are another guy that I'd like to meet! I just need to get to WV. Hopefully next year!!

Semper FI Charles!!!!

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