Man plunges into crevice where the most people die in Red River Gorge, KY rescue says
A man inching his way down a 30-foot crevice in Red River Gorge, Kentucky, suddenly lost his footing and was trapped after falling the remaining 5 feet to the bottom, rescuers said.
The Wolfe County Search & Rescue team said the man was “extremely lucky” he hadn’t stumbled over the 200-foot cliff next to him.
Rescuers received a 911 call at 3 p.m. on Sept. 27 for a man who was trapped at the bottom of the crevice at Chimney Top Overlook, according to a news release. It’s the spot in Red River Gorge with the highest fatality rate, rescuers said.
The team crafted a pulley system with ropes and reeled the man out with the help of a harness and a rescuer who climbed into the crevice to help.
“We are happy to report the male subject was uninjured from his fall,” the team said, adding that he was fortunate “he didn’t continue to fall out the side of this crevice which is approximately 200’ high.”
The Wolfe County Search & Rescue is made up of volunteer members who often handle cliff incidents in extreme weather, according to its website.
“You make it look effortless,” one person told the team. “But the risks you take to save your fellow man aren’t taken lightly. Thank you for what you do!”
Red River Gorge is about 60 miles southeast of Lexington.
This story was originally published September 30, 2022 at 11:36 AM with the headline "Man plunges into crevice where the most people die in Red River Gorge, KY rescue says."
