GNAW BONE — A Charlestown man was flown out by a medical helicopter Oct. 4 after he fell from a tree stand in Brown County.

Timothy C. Rutar, 47, was on private property off State Road 46 East and was attempting to remove a lock-on style tree stand that had been in a tree for 15 years. He was going to replace it with a ladder stand, according to a press release from Indiana DNR Law Enforcement District 6.

He was using climbing steps that were attached to the tree by nylon straps. When he reached the lock-on stand, the top strap broke, causing the climbing steps to break away from the tree. He fell about 12 feet and broke his femur, the largest bone in his leg, the press release said.

Rutar did have a safety harness with him, but did not have it on, the release said.

Rutar was able to call his wife by cellphone, and she contacted the Brown County Sheriff’s Department.  Emergency personnel were able to find and carry him out of the woods.

He was flown to Indiana University Health Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis.