A Middlebury man was injured after he fell 17 feet to the ground, out of a tree stand.

It happened on Monday afternoon, when Indiana Conservation officers were called to the 3500 block of West State Road 120 on reports of a seriously injured person.

Officials say that the 36-year-old man was removing a tree stand, when the cables supporting the stand broke.

That’s when he fell about 17 feet to the ground.

He was alone and not wearing a helmet.

The victim was taken to the hospital with serious injuries to his legs.

Officers are reminding the community to wear a full-body harness and safety-rope while on elevated platforms and to never try to remove one alone.