Shelbyville hunter injured in tree stand accident

A close-up photo of police lights by night

SHELBYVILLE — Indiana Conservation Officers are investigating a tree stand accident that occurred Wednesday afternoon in Shelby County.

At approximately 4:46 p.m., officers were dispatched to the area near the 4800 block of North County Road 575E for an injured person.

Initial investigation revealed that Timothy Balting, 46, of Shelbyville, fell approximately 15-20 feet while attempting to move his hang on a tree stand.

Despite his injuries, Balting was able to use his cellphone to call for medical assistance. He was transported to Methodist Hospital with back, arm, and pelvis injuries.

Balting was wearing a full body safety harness at the time of the accident, but it was not affixed to the tree.

Conservation Officers remind everyone using elevated platforms to always wear a full body harness, use a tree stand’s safety rope, never try to put up or remove a tree stand by themselves and to always inspect their tree stand before climbing up into it.