News

Hiker rescued after 50-foot fall at Grandfather Mountain

Hiker rescued after 50-foot fall at Grandfather Mountain

A North Carolina State Highway Patrol helicopter takes part in the rescue of a hiker who fell about 50 feet at Grandfather Mountain. Photo: Contributed/North Carolina Emergency Management


AVERY COUNTY, N.C. (828newsNOW) — A hiker who fell about 50 feet at Grandfather Mountain was rescued Sunday in a coordinated effort involving multiple emergency response agencies, according to North Carolina Emergency Management.

The North Carolina Emergency Management State Emergency Operations Center in Raleigh received a request for assistance from Avery County Emergency Management shortly before 2 p.m., the agency said.

NC Emergency Management dispatched a North Carolina State Highway Patrol helicopter crew with North Carolina Helicopter Aquatic Rescue Team technicians from the Raleigh Fire Department.

On the ground, members of NC Mountain Rescue Team 1, Linville-Central Rescue Squad, Avery County fire departments and EMS personnel, along with an NC Emergency Management area coordinator, made their way to the injured hiker.

Crews hiked in with medical equipment and supplies and prepared the hiker for an air extraction, according to NC Emergency Management.

The hiker was then loaded onto the State Highway Patrol helicopter and flown to a nearby landing zone, where the patient was transferred to a medical helicopter operated by Highlands Emergency Air Rescue & Transport.

NC Emergency Management said the rescue required extensive training and coordination among the agencies involved.

“These types of high skill, high risk rescues are not completed by chance,” the agency said in a social media post. “It takes hundreds and even thousands of hours of training by all parties.”

The hiker’s condition was not released.

Recent Headlines

9 hours ago in Entertainment

Meet the 2026 ‘Dancing With the Stars’ cast

The newest cast competing for the Mirrorball Trophy on "Dancing With the Stars" was unveiled Wednesday, featuring the usual complement of entertainers, reality stars and athletes ranging from gold medalists to a Savannah Bananas player.

16 hours ago in Sports, Trending

Tiger Woods pleads no contest to reckless driving charge over rollover crash in Florida

Tiger Woods pleaded no contest to a reckless driving charge Wednesday following a rollover crash in March near his home in Florida where he initially was accused of driving under the influence.

16 hours ago in Entertainment

Ariana Grande steps out of the spotlight with gratitude at tour closing

Ariana Grande's final words, before she stepped offstage and out of the spotlight, were for her fans. Addressing the crowd during her last concert in London Tuesday before she takes a break from the public eye, the singer was full of emotion and gratitude.

2 days ago in Entertainment

Amid backlash, museum cancels planned Met Gala exhibit on fashion designer John Galliano

The Metropolitan Museum of Art is canceling its planned exhibit honoring British designer John Galliano — plans that had led to bitter backlash from the Jewish community and beyond because of the designer's past antisemitic and racist statements.

2 days ago in Entertainment, Trending

Jury convicts a man of first-degree murder for the 1996 killing of rap icon Tupac Shakur

A jury found Duane "Keffe D" Davis guilty of orchestrating the 1996 killing of rap icon Tupac Shakur, finally bringing a measure of resolution to a case that had gripped hip-hop fans and lingered in the public imagination for decades.