Fannin County Search & Rescue, Georgia DNR, and the U.S. Army Camp Merrill (Dahlonega) helicopter rescue team worked together on an extended weekend search and rescue operation for a lost hunter in northeast Georgia. This took place in the Cohutta Wildlife Management Area between Saturday and well into the early morning hours Sunday.
The initial call came in mid-morning, and Fannin County SAR and Georgia DNR responded into the rugged backcountry to begin the search. The subject was located several miles off trail and thousands of feet below the surrounding terrain in a steep ravine. Georgia DNR made first contact with the subject shortly after 7:00 p.m.
After reaching and assessing the subject, crews determined that due to his critical condition and the extremely difficult terrain, carrying him out on foot was not a safe or viable option. A helicopter rescue team was then requested for extraction.
With darkness already setting in and changing weather conditions in the area, most traditional aviation resources were no longer an option. But the Army Camp Merrill helicopter rescue team was able to respond and conduct a nighttime hoist operation, successfully extracting the patient from the ravine and transporting him to a nearby hospital for further treatment.
Ground crews then began the long hike out, with all personnel safely out of the woods between 2:00 and 3:00 Sunday morning.