North Carolina climber airlifted after plunging 20 feet down gorge, sustaining serious injuries

A hiker who fell 20 feet in a North Carolina gorge and sustained serious injuries was airlifted out of harm’s way over the weekend.

Emergency crews were called around 2 p.m. Sunday amid reports of a fallen climber along a steep section of Shortoff Mountain in Linville Gorge.

"The lead climber was attempting to place gear approximately 40 feet above the ledge when they took a lead fall of approximately 15–20 feet," Burke Rescue Inc. and SAR posted on its Facebook page, "during which they swung away from the climbing wall and struck an adjacent rock pillar."

An online fundraiser shared by Burke Rescue identified the climber as Jacob Gregory.

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Paramedics initially responded, rappelled down to the climber, and assessed the patient while additional resources were requested.

"After a request for whole blood, a Burke Rescue volunteer ran approximately 1.5 miles, covering 1,000 feet of elevation in just 31 minutes," the Facebook post states, "while carrying critical whole blood to the patient to help stabilize them for transport."

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A North Carolina Helo-Aquatic Rescue Team Black Hawk helicopter was eventually called to assist with an air rescue because of the steep, rugged terrain.

The helicopter, known as "Kill Devil 244," lifted the climber off the mountain and took him to Charlotte for medical treatment. The rescue involved two dozen agencies from surrounding counties.

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"It took an extraordinary number of people, coordination, and courage to get Jacob from that remote mountainside to the care he needed," the online fundraiser said. "To every responder who answered that call: thank you. You saved a life and brought a husband, father, brother, son, friend and loved one to safety."

Burke Rescue noted that climbing comes with inherent risks and urged climbers to "know your abilities" as well as use appropriate equipment.

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