Hiker plummets into a ravine near popular NC waterfalls, her rescuers say
Crews contended with 'difficult terrain' and fog, rain and thunderstorms to rescue the woman about six miles west of Morganton, Burke County 911 spokesman Chris White told The Charlotte Observer on Saturday.
The hiker fell just west of Steel Creek Park & Campground, White said. The campground is on N.C. 181.
A Burke Rescue worker reached the woman just before 3:30 p.m., about 1 1/2 hours after the emergency call came in, the squad reported Saturday. She injured a leg.
The woman fell in 'rugged terrain' in the Buck Creek area of Pisgah National Forest, squad officials said.
A rescue helicopter took five hours to reach the woman due to the terrain and weather, and downed trees and washed-out roads and trails from Hurricane Helene in September, according to a Burke County 911 statement on social media late Friday.
The hiker's name, age and condition haven't been released.
Other hikers with the woman called 911 after they found cell phone service away from where the woman fell, White said.
More rescuers reached the woman just after 5 p.m. and applied Advanced Life Support care, according to Burke Rescue.
By 8 p.m., Burke County 911 said emergency crews from multiple counties were on scene at the Steel Creek Access area on U.S. Forest Service Road 210.
'The patient is being attended to by heroes from Burke EMS, Burke County Rescue, and multiple fire departments,' Burke County 911 said late Friday.
A rescue helicopter finally removed the woman just before 9 p.m. and took her to a waiting ambulance. She was taken to a hospital.
'All rescuers were safely out of the woods by 10:40 p.m.,' according to Burke Rescue. 'We extend our sincere thanks to all the agencies that responded to this challenging call.'
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