A man who was deer hunting in Marshall County was airlifted to South Bend for the treatment of a spinal injury after falling from his tree stand near Tippecanoe Sunday morning. Rodney Kreft, 54, fell 24 feet when his tree stand broke, according to DNR officials. The stand had been left in the tree for several years, and Kreft was not wearing a safety harness. This year alone DNR officials have responded to 11 falls from tree stands resulting in serious injuries. Hunters are reminded to inspect their equipment regularly and use a harness when hunting from elevated positions in order to minimize the risk of injury.
