SHIPSHEWANA, IN — A Middlebury man was airlifted to a Fort Wayne hospital after he fell 17 feet from a tree stand in LaGrange County Monday afternoon.

The incident happened at around 3:30 p.m. at an area in the 3500 block of West State Road 120, about 5 miles northeast of Shipshewana.

According to a report from Indiana Department of Natural Resources, 36-year-old Lyndon J. Slabach of Middlebury was removing a hang-on style tree stand when the cables supporting the stand broke.

Investigators say Slabach fell 17 feet to the ground below. He was alone and was reportedly not wearing a safety harness.

Slabach was able to get his cellphone and call a relative, who then called 9-1-1.

Slabach was treated by medics at the scene then airlifted to a Fort Wayne hospital in serious condition. Authorities say He suffered injuries to his legs.