photo by Amy Maxwell
A Covenant College freshman was taken to Erlanger Hospital after a fall of about 40 feet while rock climbing on Sunday afternoon at Rainbow Falls (300 Ohio Ave.) on Signal Mountain.
Authorities said the 18-year-old male suffered serious injuries.
A fellow Covenant student, Will Friesen, said his friend was moving across the rock wall near the water when he fell.
He said he had a head injury, but he hit feet first. He said his vitals were good and he was speaking coherently on the scene. He said there was no paralysis.
At 1 p.m., a 911 call came in reporting the fall. The Signal Mountain Fire Department responded and immediately requested a Mutual Aid response for additional manpower. A rehab unit and rope teams were asked to respond.
There were three rescue teams in the woods. Hamilton County EMS was with the teen shortly before 4 p.m. monitoring his condition.
One rescue team cut trees down to make the trail wider to allow rescue units to carry the injured youth out safely.
The entire extrication efforts took several hours. The terrain is very steep and rocky. He was airlifted about 5:30 p.m.
Rescue units assisting the Signal Mountain Fire Department were Walden's Ridge Emergency Services, Lone Oak Volunteer Fire Department, Mowbray Volunteer Fire Department and Chattanooga USAR team. The Red Bank Fire Department and Dallas Bay Volunteer Fire Department were on standby for emergency calls for Signal Mountain.
photo by Amy Maxwell