I know a doctor, that while pre-season checking his homemade ladder stands about 10 years ago, had the treated wood ladder step break and he fell about 15 feet. His worst injury was he shattered his femur and almost bled to death. His truck was about 75 feet away and his cell phone was in it, but he could not get to the truck. His family found him about 6 hours after he fell. He still walks with a cane and has other complications. I've never liked a homemade ladder or platform stand.
On the other hand an old friend of mine's 20 year old son was in his climber and something broke. He had the factory supplied tree harness on, and it was on according to instructions. They found him hanging in the tree dead. He had tried to cut the harness off, but had dropped his knife. This was about15 or so years ago.