Six-hour rescue at Scott’s Gulf

A call for an injured hiker along the Virgin Falls Trail Friday afternoon would ultimately bring more than 40 emergency responders to Scott’s Gulf Wilderness State Park.

A 35-year-old woman had fallen while hiking the trail, seriously injuring her leg and ankle. Responders would spend more than six hours getting her safely out of the wilderness, working through rugged terrain and rain before finally reaching a waiting ambulance after dark.

Responders located the woman off the trail along a steep embankment. Reaching her meant navigating rugged terrain and crossing a gorge. Once crews were able to assess and stabilize her, they still had to figure out how to get her back out.

That would take manpower, rope systems, help from two neighboring counties, and hours of work.

Crews from the Sparta-White County Volunteer Rescue Squad, Eastland Volunteer Fire Department, BonDeCroft Volunteer Fire Department, Town of Doyle Volunteer Fire Department, Central View Volunteer Fire Department, City of Sparta Fire Department, White County EMS, and Tennessee State Parks responded.

As the rescue continued, additional resources were requested from Cumberland County Rescue and Putnam County Rescue, which sent personnel and specialized equipment to Scott’s Gulf.

At several points along the route, rescuers established technical rope systems to move the injured hiker through the steep terrain. Then the weather added another obstacle.

Rainstorms moved through the area, soaking the trail and leaving crews to continue the rescue over wet, muddy ground.

Daylight disappeared, but the work continued.

More than 42 responders ultimately spent over six hours getting the woman out of the wilderness. During that time, crews navigated more than 2,200 feet of cumulative elevation change before reaching the waiting ambulance and turning the hiker over for further medical care.