Battalion Chief Ashley May said the woman fell approximately 50 feet to the ground below and then rolled downhill another 40 to 50 feet over rocks and brush. She injured her leg in the fall and was unable to move on her own.
Firefighters with Quint 3, Squad 20, Squad 1 and USAR-1 responded to the scene. USAR-1 is part of the department's Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) team, which has firefighters who have extra training and equipment to handle special rescue situations, such as this one on Raccoon Mountain. After getting the 32-year-old woman secured in a Stokes basket, the firefighters used a rope and pulley system to help them carry the patient safely up the steep terrain. The patient was then transported on an all terrain rescue vehicle to an ambulance with Hamilton County EMS. Paramedics with EMS provided some additional pre-hospital care before handing her off to Life Force Air Medical for a quick flight to Erlanger Medical Center. Though she had an injured leg and appeared to be in a lot of pain, her injuries were not thought to be life-threatening. The entire rescue operation took about an hour-and-a-half to complete.
Two other people were reportedly with, or near the victim, when she fell. TVA police are handling the investigation. Chattanooga police and Hamilton County Sheriff's deputies were also on the scene, along with Marion County Emergency Management. This incident on Raccoon Mountain actually occurred on TVA property in Marion County.
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