A woman was seriously injured and had to be airlifted to the hospital after falling down a steep rock slope on Currahee Mountain near Toccoa. The woman fell approximately 100-feet from a narrow trail adjacent to a rock outcropping used as a popular viewing location, rescuers say.
On Tuesday morning, a 911 caller alerted officials someone was in trouble. Dispatchers sent Stephens County Sheriff’s deputies to the scene.
“The caller was in the same area of Currahee Mountain and came upon her vehicle, which was running. They heard the female call for help, and that prompted them to call 911,” says Stephens County Emergency Management/911 Director Danielle Rhodes.
Due to the inaccessibility of the injured woman’s location, deputies requested the Stephens County Search and Rescue Team to respond. The team was dispatched to the summit around 10:30 a.m. on May 3.
“The victim had significant injuries and could not move from her location without assistance,” says SCSAR Chief Brantley Moore.
The team rigged ropes to lower rescuers to the injured woman and retrieve her. Due to the nature and extent of her injuries, a medical helicopter flew her to the hospital for treatment. Officials say they have no other information on her condition or identity at this time.
A popular destination
At 1,715 feet, Currahee Mountain is the highest peak in Stephens County. It is a prominent landmark and hiking destination in Northeast Georgia. The summit’s rock face has a sharp drop-off, and there are no barriers to prevent people from slipping and falling. Still, Director Rhodes says such incidents are a rare occurrence.
“I believe this is the second or third incident we have had like this since 2016 when I first came into my position in Stephens County,” she tells Now Habersham. “They don’t happen often, but when they do, it usually requires a multi-level response from EMS, fire, law [enforcement], and SAR because of the terrain of Currahee Mountain on the summit side.”
Stephens County EMS and the Carnes Creek Fire Department assisted with the rescue on May 3.
Director Rhodes encourages people to use caution when visiting Currahee Mountain and to always travel in pairs. “[That way] if someone were to get hurt, there is still someone who can call for help.”
