Great Smoky Mountains Natl. Park — Two hikers were seriously injured after falling from the Cataract Falls in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park on July 3, according to a spokesperson with the park.
Emily Davis, the spokesperson, said crews responded to calls for help sometime in the afternoon. She said both hikers were taken by helicopter from the Sugarlands Visitor Center to a nearby hospital. She said the National Park Service and crews with Gatlinburg Fire and Rescue helped respond to the calls, along with the NPS Search and Rescue team.
She said visitors in the Great Smoky Mountains should make sure to stay on the trails and not climb rocks near waterfalls. They should also use extreme caution while walking along the river and near creekbanks in the national park.
Additional information, such as the identities of the people involved and the specific circumstances surrounding how they fell, was not immediately available. This story will be updated when more information is available.