A 15-year-old deer hunter fell from a tree stand Saturday in Kosciusko County and sprained his leg and ankle, Indiana conservation officers said.

Clarence “Daven” Gasaway of Warsaw was in the Tri-County Fish and Wildlife Area about 10:45 a.m., hunting from a stand 24 feet off the ground. His hunting partner was in another stand about 15 yards away.

Gasaway had just started to descend from his stand when part of it broke. Not wearing a safety harness, he fell backward and became stuck upside down in the stand.

A third hunter saw what happened and called 911. When emergency workers reached Gasaway, he was still upside down, and he told them he had been in that position for about 30 minutes.

Firefighters used a ladder to rescue Gasaway, and he was taken to Kosciusko Community Hospital in Warsaw.

He was released after being treated for a sprain to his lower left leg and ankle.