An early morning accident at Panther Creek Falls in the Cohutta Wilderness resulted in the death of one camper and left another injured. Around 2:12 a.m. on a Saturday, the Fannin County Fire Department Search and Rescue responded to a distress call after a large tree fell onto a campsite where four young men were sleeping in hammocks, according to FOX5 Atlanta.
The rescue team faced a challenging trek, requiring more than five hours to reach the remote site. A father and daughter camping nearby were the first to assist, staying with the injured until help arrived. The Fannin County Emergency Management Agency reported that the campsite was approximately 4.2 miles from the nearest trailhead, requiring responders to hike over 8.4 miles round-trip through difficult terrain, much of it in the dark, as noted by WRDW.
The rescue operation involved 23 personnel from various agencies, including the Fannin County Coroner's Office and the U.S. Forest Service Law Enforcement Division. Despite their efforts, one camper was pronounced dead at the scene, and the identity of the deceased has not been released. Another camper, trapped and injured, was airlifted to Blue Ridge Medical Center for treatment. The other two campers were unharmed.
The Fannin County Emergency Management Agency expressed condolences to the families of those involved. Investigations into the incident are ongoing.
