White County rescuers assist at Burgess Falls

Members of the Sparta-White County Volunteer Rescue Squad were called across county lines Saturday evening to help with the rescue of an injured person at Burgess Falls State Park.

The Putnam County Rescue Squad requested mutual aid as crews worked to reach a patient at the base of the park’s Top Falls. White County rescuers responded to assist with the rope rescue operation.

Donale Felicella, with the Sparta-White County Volunteer Rescue Squad, served as officer in charge for the White County response. He said White County also sent personnel with a south group that included Central View Volunteer Fire Department.

Crews from White County worked alongside the Putnam County Rescue Squad’s Rope Rescue Team and Tennessee State Parks personnel to bring the injured person out of the falls area.

The patient was safely moved to a waiting ambulance for further medical care.

Putnam County Rescue Squad credited cooperation among the agencies with allowing crews to safely and efficiently complete the rescue.