I feel sorry for the man's family. Two years ago i fell 38 feet out of a climbing stand and i honestly do not know how im alive today and can still walk. I was one of these ppl. who thought he's bulletproof climbing trees and i would never fall....YEAH RIGHT I will tell you this, it happens in a blink of an eye and once you start falling your screwed, there's no catching surrounding treelimbs cause it happens just to fast. It was undoubtely the worst feeling i have ever felt (completely helpless). I climbed 30 ft up the tree which was beside an 8 ft. ditch that had maybe an inch of water in it and i was still facing the tree on a tree lounge and i sat down on the stand to lock it on the tree, then stood back up on the foot climber and all i remember is hearing the top part of the stand hitting the foot climber and i was immeadiately airborne. All you can hear is the air rushing by your ears like a jet flying by and thinking Oh Sh*t. Not good fellas, wear a safety harness. I should have died that day but im still hear for a reason, (still haven't found the reason). I had multiple fractures and got busted up pretty good and was out of work for over 3 months. But today im almost fine, my rt. ankle bothers me alot but i can walk fine for the most partso i feel very fortunate.
Don't think i can't happen to you, wear a safety belt for your family if for nothing else...