I am writing in response to your request for additinal information on my recent accident. In block 3 of the accident form, I put "poor planning" as the cause of the accident. You said in your letter that I should explain more fully and I trust that the following details will be sufficient.
I am an amateur radio operator. On the day of the accident, I was working alone on the top section of my new 80 foot antenna tower. When I had completed my work, I had discovered that I had, over the course of several trips up the tower, brought up about 300 pounds of tools and spare hardware. Rather than carry the now unneeded tools and hardware down by hand, I decided to lower the items in a small barrel by using a pulley, which fortunately, was attached to the gin pole at the top of the tower. Securing the rope at the ground level, I went up to the top of the tower and loaded the tools and hardware into the barrel. Then I went back to the ground and untied the rope holding tightly to ensure a slow decent of the 300 pounds of tools and hardware. You will note in block 11 of the accident form, that I weigh 155 pounds. Due to my surprise at being jerked off the ground so suddenly, I lost my presence of mind and forgot to let go of the rope. Needless to say, I proceeded at a rather rapid rate up the side of the tower. In the vicinity of the 40 foot level, I met the barrel coming down. This explains my fractured skull and broken collarbone. Slowed only slightly, I continued my rapid ascent, not stopping until the fingers of my right hand were two knuckles deep into the pulley. Fortunately, by this time I had regained my presence of mind and was able to hold onto the rope in spite of my pain. At approximately the same time, however, the barrel hit the ground and the bottom fell out of the barrel. Devoid of the weight of tools and hardware, the barrel now weighed 20 pounds. I refer you again to my weight in block 11. As you might imagine, I began a rapid descent down the side of the tower. In the vicinity of the 40 foot level, I met the barrel coming back up. This accounts for the two fractured ankles and lacerations of my legs and lower body. The encounter with the barrel slowed me enough to lessen my injuries when I fell on the pile of tools and hardware and, fortunately, only 3 vertebrae were cracked. I am sorry to report however that as I lay there on the tools and hardware, in pain, unable to stand, and watching the empty barrel above me, I again lost my presence of mind.
I let go of the rope.