BURKE COUNTY, N.C. — A camper was rescued at Linville Gorge in Burke County Saturday morning, officials with the North Carolina Department of Safety said.
Crews said a 59-year old man had been winter camping with a group along the Pinch-In trail, near the river at the bottom of Linville Gorge, when he began experiencing chest pains.
Members in his group called 911 and local rescuers and two Mountain Rescue Teams responded.
Facing a carryout of several hours over icy trails, the rescue teams called for NC HART to assist with a helicopter evacuation, officials said.
Crews from the North Carolina National Guard UH-60 air crew, and three rescue technicians from the Charlotte Fire Department left from Salisbury and arrived on the scene around 4:30 a.m.
Crews took the man to safety, along with paramedics who were treating him, delivered him to an EMS vehicle and he was transported to a local hospital.
Responders from Burke County Rescue, McDowell Rescue, the Parkway Fire and Rescue Department and from the Parkway Fire and Linville Central Mountain Rescue Teams assisted in the rescue effort.
“We are grateful to all the rescuers who train extensively and were there to help in these cold and icy conditions,” North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper said in a statement.
Cox Media Group
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/cmg/LH3JSJEF3VBLRJLJQESEAG34AM.png)
