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White County emergency personnel rescue man after fall from Raven Cliff Falls

By Dean Dyer WRWH Radio
Posted 11:18PM on Friday 30th September 2016 ( 8 years ago )

HELEN — Emergency personnel from several different agencies worked together after a 43-year-old Dunwoody man fell from the top of Raven Cliff Falls in White County.

Personnel from White County Fire Services, White County Emergency Medical Services and Helen Fire Department were dispatched just after 4 p.m.

Because of the rugged terrain, fire and medical personnel had to hike in two and one-half miles to reach the victim.

"We sent in a team first to recruit and see what we had going on, and we sent in other personnel as they called for it and other equipment to stabilize the gentleman and to get him out of the woods," said White County Fire Chief Norman Alexander.

Georgia Department of Natural Resources Aviation provided a helicopter that was able to maneuver in place and drop a roughly 200-foot line to hoist the victim out of the area.

He then was taken to the waiting AirLife Georgia 14 helicopter, which transported him to Northeast Georgia Medical Center.

Alexander said using the DNR helicopter saved two to three hours of the time it would have taken to get the victim out otherwise.   

That victim, identified as Chris Tonderys, suffered head and other injuries.  

Alexander said the operation took a total of  four hours, with 25 personnel, including the Lee Arrendale State Prison Fire Department from Alto.  

Emergency personnel in White County work to remove an injured man from the base of Raven Cliff Falls.
Emergency personnel utilize a basket to remove an injured Dunwoody man from the base of Raven Cliff Falls in White County.
A Georgia Department of Natural Resources helicopter lifts an injured man for a rendezvous with AirLife Georgia 14, a Blairsville-based medical helicopter, for transport to Northeast Georgia Medical Center.
A Georgia Department of Natural Resources helicopter lifts the basket carrying an injured Dunwoody man from the area near Raven Cliff Falls.

http://accesswdun.com/article/2016/9/451882/white-county-emergency-personnel-rescue-man-after-fall-from-raven-cliff-falls

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