SHORTOFF MOUNTAIN —An experienced rock climber said he was the first person to reach the man who fell 20-40 feet off a cliff in Linville Gorge.
Officials also cited him because emergency crews said he got in the way of their operation.
The civilian rock climber said he spent hours with the victim, but Tuesday, he's being fined with interfering with the rescue.
It's the latest twist in a dramatic rescue you watched unfold live on Channel 9.
The 23-year-old who fell is in good condition at an Asheville hospital.
Jackson Depew severely injured his pelvis in the fall when he landed on a ledge just a few feet wide when his climbing anchors gave way.
911 calls give a firsthand account of the desperate situation on that ledge.
A civilian rock climber wearing an orange helmet was the first person to reach Depew.
The climber stayed with him for several hours before emergency crews from Burke County arrived....read story here.
Source: No Charge for Rescue
