Multi-Agency Hoist Rescue Safely Extracts Injured Hiker Near Laurel River Dam
Editor’s Note: Photos and video from this rescue can be found here: https://ky.canto.com/b/TA5PR
LONDON, Ky. (Aug. 1, 2026) – A coordinated multi-agency emergency response led to the successful helicopter hoist rescue of an injured 18-year-old male hiker Friday evening near Laurel River Dam.
On July 31, 2026, the Whitley County 911 Center received a request for assistance from a stranded hiker who had been injured. Dispatchers were able to obtain the caller’s latitude and longitude, allowing emergency responders to quickly locate the caller and respond in the remote area.
When first responders arrived, they were met by three teenagers who had been hiking with the injured man. They explained that a group of three friends had hiked down a trail to a waterfall that empties into a small pool below. As the group attempted to cross above the waterfall, one of the hikers lost his footing and fell over the falls into the water below.
The hiker landed on a submerged rock, suffering injuries to his knee and ankle that left him unable to free himself or climb to safety.
The Corbin Fire Department deployed its high-angle rope rescue team and began establishing a technical rope rescue system to reach the victim. At the same time, the Woodbine Search and Rescue Squad launched an inflatable Zodiac rescue boat below the Laurel River Dam power plant to reach the patient by water. However, extremely low water conditions made the route impassable, and the effort was discontinued.
At approximately 7:45 p.m., Kentucky Emergency Management requested assistance from the Kentucky State Police (KSP) Aircraft Support Branch.
The KSP Aircraft Support Branch, working alongside Kentucky Urban Search and Rescue Task Force 1 (KY TF-1), conducted a precision nighttime helicopter hoist rescue to safely extract the injured hiker from the remote location. A paramedic from Georgetown-Scott County EMS, who is qualified as a helicopter-aquatic hoist rescue specialist through KY TF-1, accompanied the flight crew to provide advanced medical care during the operation.
Following the successful hoist, the patient was flown directly to Williamsburg-Whitley County Airport, where he was transferred to Whitley County EMS for evaluation and transport to a local hospital.
The successful rescue was made possible through the coordinated efforts of numerous local, regional, and state public safety agencies, including Kentucky Emergency Management, Kentucky Urban Search and Rescue Task Force 1, Laurel-Whitley Emergency Management, Georgetown-Scott County EMS, Woodbine Search and Rescue Squad, Corbin Fire Department, Whitley County EMS, Williamsburg Police Department, and the U.S. Forest Service.
# # #