On Saturday a little after 2:00 pm Piney Volunteer Fire Department was dispatched to Fall Creek Falls State Park for a person that had a medical emergency down the creek below the Cable Trail. Fall Creek Falls State Park rangers quickly responded and located the patient about 1,000 feet down creek from the Cable Trail. Piney Fire Department arrived and sent more personnel to assist the patient. Responders started treating the patient. Many agencies were called from other counties to help.

Dunlap Fire Department, Pikeville Fire Department – TN, and Doyle Volunteer Fire Department were requested and responded. It was determined more manpower and technical rescue assistance was needed. Signal Mountain Fire Department, Waldens Ridge Emergency Service, Putnam County Rescue Squad, and Warren County EMS & Rescue then responded to the scene. Fall Creek Falls State Park also brought in rangers from other state parks who assisted.

Due to the patient’s condition and the difficulty of extraction, TN-HART was called to bring a helicopter to lift the patient out of the gorge. Rope systems were used to move the patient to a rock in the middle of the creek. The TN-HART crew arrived and took the patient to a local airport where White County EMS transported the patient to a local hospital.

We are thankful for all the agencies and individuals that responded to help. It is great to have such teams available and willing to help.