First responders rescue woman, who fell at Cumberland Falls

Emergency crews make preparations to rescue a woman, who fell at Cumberland Falls.

Area first responders were called to Cumberland Falls Sunday evening after a woman fell from the rocks near the falls.

Whitley County Emergency Management Director Danny Moses said the woman, whose name has not been released, was airlifted to the University of Tennessee Medical Center with a compound fracture of the left leg.

Emergency personnel were called to the scene about 5:30 p.m. in response to a call that an individual had fallen into the water and failed to surface.

Moses said the woman did surface and was found on a nearby embankment.

“She had climbed over the railings of one of the lower viewing platforms and out onto the rocks,” Moses explained. “She was about 20 to 30 feet from the falls when she fell.”

Moses said another lady that was with the woman, along with Cumberland Falls Park Manager Roy Johnson, were able to reach her and tend to her until emergency personnel could reach her.

Rescuers had to use a raft to remove the victim, who fell onto rocks near Cumberland Falls.

A raft was dropped into the water from the rocks at the top of the falls and used to transport the patient to the beach area where she was stabilized and carried to a waiting ambulance.

Moses said Whitley EMS then transported the woman to the former Tombstone Junction property on Ky. 90 in McCreary County where the Eagle Sawyers Fire Department had established a helicopter-landing zone.

Woodbine Search and Rescue, Oak Grove Fire Department, McCreary County Rescue Squad, Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife and the park service all responded to the scene.

Moses said the entire operation took between two and three hours.