US News
Climber airlifted after sustaining serious injuries in North Carolina gorge fall
A multi-agency rescue team extracted a lead climber who fell up to 20 feet on Shortoff Mountain in Linville Gorge.
The short version
- A lead climber fell 15 to 20 feet and hit a rock pillar while climbing on Shortoff Mountain in Linville Gorge.
- First responders and search-and-rescue teams delivered emergency blood to the remote site to stabilize the patient.
- A state helicopter rescue crew hoisted the injured climber from the rugged terrain and flew him to Charlotte for medical care.
Key facts
- Rescuers received reports around 2 p.m. Sunday that a climber had fallen along a steep section of Shortoff Mountain in North Carolina's Linville Gorge.[Fox News]
- Burke Rescue Inc. reported that the lead climber took a 15- to 20-foot fall while attempting to place gear about 40 feet above a ledge, swinging into an adjacent rock pillar.[Fox News]
- A rescue volunteer ran approximately 1.5 miles and ascended 1,000 feet of elevation in 31 minutes to deliver whole blood needed to stabilize the patient.[Fox News]
- A North Carolina Helo-Aquatic Rescue Team Black Hawk helicopter hoisted the climber from the mountain and transported him to Charlotte for medical treatment.[Fox News]
- The emergency operation involved personnel from two dozen agencies across surrounding counties.[Fox News]
What remains uncertain
- The specific extent of the climber's injuries and his current medical condition have not been disclosed.[Fox News]