Moment four Kentucky college students camping during SNOWSTORM are rescued after getting stranded atop a mountain
- Four Asbury University students camped at Courthouse Rock in Kentucky’s Red River Gorge despite severe weather warnings
- The group woke up to find so much snow that they couldn’t climb down
- Instead, Kentucky State Police rescued them by helicopter in ‘one of the most dangerous rescues ever in the canyon’
Four Kentucky students were rescued by helicopter Tuesday after becoming stranded on Courthouse Rock in Kentucky’s Red River Gorge.
Asbury University students camped overnight despite Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear’s warning about bad weather on Monday.
The students woke up to find that the amount of snow that had fallen would make it unsafe to climb down the cliff.
Dramatic video shows the moment helicopters arrived to rescue students in winter conditions. They were eventually brought to safety, looking a little worse for wear from the ordeal.
Four Asbury University students camped at Courthouse Rock in Kentucky’s Red River Gorge despite warnings of severe weather
Authorities said the rescue mission was “one of the most dangerous rescues ever attempted in the gorge.”
Besides being cold, all four students appeared to be in good spirits,” police said
The students called for help around 9:30 a.m. Tuesday and Powell County Fire and Rescue was dispatched to assess trail conditions for the rescue. Rescuers soon realized that the frigid conditions meant the only viable solution was to take the group down by helicopter.
“Helicopters are inherently dangerous,” Powell County search and rescue officials said.
“If that’s deemed the safest option, you know you’re in a life-or-death situation.”
Kentucky State Police flew the helicopter and evacuated the students Tuesday at 2:05 p.m.
REDSTAR Wilderness EMS assisted in the rescue mission, but there were no reported injuries.
Kentucky State Police rescued them by helicopter, which was caught on camera
REDSTAR Wilderness EMS assisted in the rescue mission, but there were no reported injuries
Rescuers soon realized that the frigid conditions meant the only viable solution was to take the group down by helicopter
“Helicopters are inherently dangerous,” Powell County Search and Rescue said
Asbury University students camped overnight despite Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear’s warning about the bad weather
“Other than being cold, all four students appeared to be in good spirits,” police said.
“This call was one of the most dangerous rescue attempts ever made in the canyon,” Powell County Fire and Rescue said.
Adding: ‘Climbing Courthouse Rock is extremely treacherous, even when conditions are favorable.’
The gorge has been the scene of several major accidents in recent years. In 2021, 24-year-old Gabriella Smith died in the canyon after a hiking accident.
The second-year medical student from Alexandria was found at the bottom of a 150-foot cliff.
A 25-year-old male camper was also found dead at a campsite near Hanson’s Point that year.