First responders from across White County joined forces on a successful backcountry rescue mission last night, safely extracting a female hiker experiencing a medical emergency deep within Scott’s Gulf Wilderness State Park.

Emergency crews were dispatched after receiving reports of a hiker in distress roughly three miles down the Lost Creek Falls trailhead. Utilizing CalTopo GPS plotting to pin down her exact location, responders swiftly set up an Incident Command post.

Given the rugged terrain and severe radio dead zones in the area, teams deployed a mobile Starlink satellite system to maintain critical communications. Responders then launched two side-by-side all-terrain vehicles into the backcountry, supported by a third team held on standby.

Rescue personnel reached the patient and two other members of her hiking party, safely transporting all three back to the command center. White County EMS was on hand alongside local volunteer fire departments and state park rangers to administer care.

The coordinated operation brought together the Sparta-White County Volunteer Rescue Squad, Doyle Volunteer Fire Department, Central View Volunteer Fire Department, Hickory Valley Volunteer Fire Department, White County EMS, and Tennessee Park Rangers. Responders answered the late-night call on a moment’s notice, stepping away from family dinners, church services, and time with friends to head into the woods.

Community leaders praised the seamless coordination among the various agencies, highlighting how regular joint training paid off in a high-stakes scenario. Local volunteer departments are currently encouraging residents inspired by the mission to step forward and join their ranks as volunteer first responders.