North Carolina Climber Airlifted After 20-Foot Gorge Fall Causes Serious Injuries

A climber who plunged up to 20 feet in North Carolina’s Linville Gorge suffered serious injuries and had to be airlifted to safety over the weekend.

Rescue teams were dispatched around 2 p.m. Sunday after reports came in that a climber had fallen along a steep area of Shortoff Mountain.

According to Burke Rescue Inc. and SAR, the lead climber was about 40 feet above a ledge and trying to place gear when the fall happened. The climber dropped roughly 15 to 20 feet, swung away from the wall and hit a nearby rock pillar, the agency said in a Facebook post.

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

Paramedics were first on scene, rappelling down to reach the climber and evaluate the injuries as additional rescue resources were called in.

Burke Rescue said the response included an urgent request for whole blood. One volunteer ran approximately 1.5 miles and climbed 1,000 feet of elevation in 31 minutes while carrying the critical blood supply to help stabilize the patient before transport.

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.

“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.