A hiker fell 20 feet in a North Carolina gorge, sustaining serious injuries, and was airlifted over the weekend for safety. Emergency crews arrived at around 2 p.m. Sunday following reports of a climber’s fall along a steep section of Shortoff Mountain in Linville Gorge.
Burke Rescue Inc. and SAR posted on Facebook that the climber, identified as Jacob Gregory, was attempting to place gear about 40 feet above a ledge when he fell approximately 15-20 feet. During the fall, he swung away from the wall and hit a nearby rock pillar.
Paramedics reached Gregory by rappelling down, assessed his condition, and called for additional resources. According to the post, a Burke Rescue volunteer ran 1.5 miles, covering 1,000 feet of elevation in 31 minutes, while carrying crucial whole blood needed to stabilize the climber for transport.
Due to the challenging terrain, a North Carolina Helo-Aquatic Rescue Team Black Hawk helicopter, named “Kill Devil 244,” arrived to assist. It lifted Gregory from the mountain to Charlotte for medical treatment. The rescue involved coordination from 24 agencies in surrounding counties.
“An extraordinary number of people, coordination, and courage were required to get Jacob from that remote mountainside to the care he needed,” stated the online fundraiser. “To every responder: thank you. You saved a life and brought a loved one to safety.”
Burke Rescue emphasized that climbing carries risks and advised climbers to understand their abilities and use appropriate gear.
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