A beloved Georgia television news anchor fell into a canyon while hiking, prompting emergency crews to stage a daring rescue.
Carol Sbarge, who has worked at WSB-TV for nearly three decades, was hiking with her boyfriend in the Chattahoochee National Forest in September.
Her peaceful hike turns into disaster when she falls down a steep ravine.
“Somehow, as I was walking on the trail, my foot hit a rock. And before I knew it, I was tumbling down this canyon,” she told WSB-TV.
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Carol Sbarge fell into a canyon while hiking with her boyfriend. (Carol Sparky via Instagram)
She told the media that she broke her ankle in three places during the fall.
Her boyfriend first tried unsuccessfully to call emergency services for help, but the phone couldn’t be reached due to the remote location.
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Eventually, another hiker came to the rescue and hiked off the backroads to contact Habersham County Emergency Services.
FILE – A lone hiker trudges through Unicoi Canyon on Georgia’s Appalachian Trail. (Carol M. Highsmith/Buyenlarge/Getty Images)
Crews arrived at the scene after hiking two miles on the trail and quickly assessed the steep slope where Sparky fell. Local media reported that they used ropes and a helicopter to slowly lift her out of the ravine.
Officials said this is the first time they have conducted an air evacuation of hikers at Panther Creek Falls.
Sbarge was airlifted and flown 3.6 miles to a local hospital. She told local media her ankle required eight screws and a metal plate.
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“They’re just special people. They put themselves in danger. You know, they don’t know what kind of danger they’re going to face every day,” Sparta told the outlet of the rescuers.
Fox News Digital has reached out to the Chattahoochee National Forest and Habersham County Emergency Services for comment.
