Emergency Response in Linville Gorge
Jacob Gregory and his son were climbing Shortoff Mountain when the amateur climber lost his footing and dropped over six meters onto a rocky ledge below. A rescue team arrived by helicopter, but medical personnel found that the patient’s condition was rapidly deteriorating due to an internal hemorrhage.
Will Sober, a 28-year-old paramedic, was already partway through the rugged terrain when he received a radio call stating the victim required an immediate blood transfusion to prevent death. Sober turned back to the staging area, retrieved a cooler containing a blood bag and compresses from an ambulance, and rushed back up the trail.
The Mountain Blood Transit
Sober covered the 2.4-kilometer distance with a 300-meter positive elevation gain in approximately 30 minutes while carrying heavy medical gear. He then completed a rope descent with an equipped colleague to deliver the blood supply to medical staff treating the injured climber at the cliffside.
The medical team administered the blood transfusion on-site before transporting Gregory to a hospital. “I’m an ordinary person who was asked to perform an extraordinary task,” Sober told Outside magazine regarding the mission.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Linville Gorge Rescue
What injuries did the hiker sustain during the fall?
Jacob Gregory suffered severe trauma after falling more than six meters onto a rocky ledge while climbing Shortoff Mountain, which subsequently led to a life-threatening internal hemorrhage.
How long did the paramedic take to deliver the blood?
Paramedic Will Sober covered the 2.4-kilometer distance featuring 300 meters of positive elevation gain in about 30 minutes while carrying a heavy cooler of medical supplies.