WHITE COUNTY, Ga. — First responders from seven jurisdictions, the Georgia State Patrol and the U.S. Forest Service conducted a heroic and dangerous six and a half hour rescue of a female patient who fell approximately 50 feet down Raven Cliff Falls Friday and became wedged in a very narrow gap where the rock faces of the falls come together.

Rescue crews made contact with the patient at 6:50 pm. Two rescuers ascended down to the patient and began working shortly after. Georgia State Patrol personnel lowered two members from Cobb County GSAR team to assist rescuers.

Members from Gainesville’s GSAR (Georgia Search & Rescue) Task Force 1 team and Rabun County TRT (Technical Rescue Team) also responded to the scene to assist due to the dangerous terrain and extreme technicality of the call.

Rescue personnel worked tirelessly on freeing the lodged patient throughout the evening. The patient was freed from the rock crevice at 11:16 pm. The patient was lifted to the top of the falls by rope personnel at 11:42 and was evaluated by EMS personnel.

The patient appeared to have only received minor injuries and was able to walk, assisted by rescuers, off of the falls and down the trail area. The patient was extricated from the trail area at 1:34am and further evaluated and transported by White County EMS.

Rescue crews remained on the scene until approximately 3:30 cleaning up rescue supplies and getting all personnel and equipment off of the mountain.

White County Public Safety David Murphy said he would like to add a special thank you to the following agencies who assisted in making this rescue mission successful. With their help we were able to obtain the best possible outcome for the patient and rescue personnel:

White Co 911
White Co Fire
White Co EMS
White Co EMA
White Co CERT
White Co SO
Helen Fire
Hall Co EMA
Clarke Co EMA
Rabun Co EMA TRT
Cobb Co TRT
Gainesville – GSAR Task Force
GSAR 6 Team – NW Georgia
GEMA
GSP Aviation
US Forest Svc LE