Yes, I was wearing a HSS vest and rope safety line. I'm not hurt but I made a few mistakes I want to share so it won't happen to you.

I was climbing down this evening. It was very dark by the time I came down and I didn't turn on my light(mistake #1). I was only about 5 feet from the ground when my seat turned loose. I fell backwards upside down. I was hanging upside down with my feet still in the straps of the foot climber. I thought my left ankle was broke. I couldn't get myself back up, or get my feet loose.

I was likely a little panicked and I just started praying for the Lord to help me.I managed to wiggle my left leg enough to get it loose from the foot strap. Then I could touch the ground with my left hand but not enough to release any pressure off my right foot to get it loose. I finally managed to get hold of my safety line and pull myself up enough to get my right foot out.

I got on the ground and just lay there taking stock of how bad I was hurt. My left ankle hurt but it started easing up after a while and it took my weight just fine.

Now my light and keys are gone. They fell out of my pockets while I was upside down. I felt around on the ground and found my keys. I had a small light on my keys and managed to locate my flashlight. I got all my stuff and my stand together and went back a couple hundred yards to my truck.

All I can say is the Jesus was with me today.

Now, let me say this. It seems the pin holding the cable on the seat climber came out. There were some vines and one must have snagged it on the way down enough to dislodge it. That wouldn't have happened if I was watching with my light on.

My safety line had too much slack in it because I was coming down. If I had came down slower with my line tighter, I wouldn't have fallen all the way upside down.

Last, I was by myself. It would have been bad if I had broken my ankle and had to wait for my wife to come looking for me. She knew where I was but I was only hanging a couple minuets and it was the longest two minuets of my life.

Learn from my mistakes and be safe.

I am fine except from some scratches all over the back of my head and hands because I went through some thick brier vines when I was pitched backwards.

Thank you Jesus!!!!!

Glad you are ok!

Glad you're okay.

Man I'm glad you walked away from it.

Dang man, glad you are ok.

Man, glad your ok! Accidents can happen so fast. We had to go to a rescue a few years back, a hunter was in an old man and had been sitting for a few hours when his cable slipped past the pin (as he didn't get it through the loop), and allowed him to fall backwards as you stated. He was about 20' off the ground and
WAS NOT wearing a harness. Luckily his phone, when it fell from his shirt pocket, landed in the good of his jacket and he was able to call for help.

What type of climber were you using, if you don't mind sharing?

Thank God you are all right.

Thanks guys. Just keep those safety lines tight!! Even in you have to move down just a little at a time. Those foot straps could easily have broken my legs when I fell.

Old Man Grand Multi Vishion. My climbing days may be over. That pin had to be in the loop. There is no way I could have climbed if it weren't. I don't know for sure though how it came out.

Glad your ok. While we are on this subject. I don't hunt from a climber that much and haven't hunted out of one this year. I did some trading and got a decent climber but no safety harness. I got to looking around and I have a brand new looking ol man safety harness. I've had it for several years and never used it. I tried to figure it out but don't know if I got it right or not. Looks to me that it comes over the shoulders and has a strap that comes around the waist. I could be totally off will someone please help me out. I tried finding something on the Internet about them but can't find nothing. Most of the ones I've saw has something coming around the legs and then hooking up. I'm guilty of climbing and not wearing anything but I've got three kids and a wife at home and I'm getting older and fear of falling has creaped into my mind. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Glad your OK!

This just made me want to order another pop up blind..... glad ur alright buddy

Glad you are ok

I still use my original ol man grand multi vision, but I did change the pins out a couple of years ago to the ones that have the threaded nuts on them as I had the others
Get close to opening before. If you decide to climb again, that maybe a good investment.

Again, thank The Lord you were able to walk away.

Very, very glad you're ok.

It was good that you were able to keep your wits about you and didn't let the panic rise.

Man, I'm scared of climbers and don't use them. I'm even starting to question my use of ladder stands.

hallelujah!

x2

Just keep your safety lines as close to the tree as possible.

In retrospect, A tarp strap instead of webbing straps on the foot climber would have been much better. The most dangerous part is that I nearly broke my ankles, and I couldn't get my feet out of those webbing straps.

Glad you are OK

Same thing happened to me opening morning 2 years ago. While I was hanging upside down I promised myself I wouldn't climb a climber again. I have been true to my word so far.