Tennessee Guardsmen rescue hiker in Great Smoky Mountains National Park

The Tennessee Army National Guard rescued an injured hiker in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park Saturday night (3/22/25).  Shortly after 5:30 p.m., eastern time, the Tennessee National Guard and the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency were notified of an injured hiker needing medical assistance in a remote area of the park, along a hiking trail near the Ramsey Cascades waterfall, east of Gatlinburg.  A Tennessee National Guard Blackhawk helicopter flew directly to the rescue hoisting site determined by Park Service Rangers who were attending to the hiker.  The patient was hoisted into the helicopter where first aid was continued. At approximately 8:30 p.m., the aircraft landed at UT Medical Center where medical personnel rushed the patient into the emergency room.