Climber Rescued After Fall in Linville Gorge; 24 Agencies Assist

BURKE COUNTY, N.C. — A climber was rescued Sunday following a serious fall on Shortoff Mountain in the Linville Gorge Wilderness Area during a complex operation involving emergency crews and volunteers from 24 agencies.

Rescuers were called to the area Sunday morning after a climber was injured while climbing the Dopey Duck route on Shortoff Mountain. Officials said the climber fell approximately 15 to 20 feet while ascending the rock face and suffered serious injuries.

The remote and rugged terrain made the rescue especially challenging. Emergency crews rappelled down the mountain to reach the injured climber and begin providing medical care.

During the rescue, crews determined that whole blood was needed to help stabilize the patient. A Burke Rescue volunteer then ran approximately 1.5 miles through the rugged Linville Gorge terrain, gaining nearly 1,000 feet in elevation, to deliver the blood to rescuers caring for the injured climber.

The North Carolina Helicopter Aquatic Rescue Team was later called in to assist with the extraction. The patient was airlifted from the mountain and transferred to a medical helicopter before being flown to a trauma center in Charlotte.

The rescue operation involved the coordinated efforts of 24 agencies and highlighted the challenges emergency responders face when responding to emergencies in the steep and remote terrain of the Linville Gorge Wilderness Area.

Officials said the climber was reported to be in stable condition following surgery.