EMT Rushes 1.5 Miles Up Shortoff Mountain to Deliver Crucial Blood for Injured Climber

In a remarkable display of heroism, Will Soper, a 28-year-old EMT and technical rescuer, sprinted up Shortoff Mountain in North Carolina to deliver a life-saving blood transfusion to an injured climber. The incident unfolded on August 30 when Jacob Gregory, leading an ascent with his son, suffered a 20-foot fall and sustained severe injuries that required immediate medical attention.

Soper, a member of Burke Rescue Inc. and SAR, received the emergency call while conducting a training session two hours away. He quickly gathered his gear and headed to the scene, knowing that multiple agencies would be needed for the challenging rescue operation. A total of 24 agencies were mobilized, including the North Carolina National Guard, which dispatched a Black Hawk helicopter.

Upon arriving at the trailhead, Soper learned that Gregory was in critical condition, experiencing internal bleeding. Paramedics radioed Soper for a bag of blood to stabilize the climber. Undeterred, Soper dashed back to the parking lot to retrieve the blood and transfusion supplies, placing them in a cooler to maintain their viability.

“Off I went,” Soper recounted. He maintained a swift hiking pace, carefully navigating the steep terrain to avoid injury. After reaching the summit, he descended a challenging gully to the climber’s location. This section proved particularly treacherous, but Soper successfully reached the rappel station and handed off his backpack to a colleague, Robert Vasile, who was prepared to descend with the supplies.

The rescue operation, characterized by steep and rocky trails, involved establishing technical rope systems to reach Gregory. Ultimately, the injured climber was transported to Atrium Carolinas Medical Center in Charlotte, where he underwent emergency surgery the following day. His family shared on a GoFundMe page that his recovery journey would be long and uncertain.

Soper reflected on the experience, stating, “I am an ordinary person asked to do an extraordinary task.” He emphasized that many others could perform similarly in emergencies and encouraged people to reach out to their local rescue teams. The collaborative effort that included Burke County Search and Rescue and other agencies highlighted the community's commitment to saving lives in remote and challenging situations.

Source: www.outsideonline.com