Free climbing a mountain without the safety of ropes or harnesses allows for no mistakes. Thomas Perry faced a serious situation when he made an error on Mount Yonah in Georgia. He found himself stuck 250 feet above the ground on a narrow ledge that was about 20 inches wide. Fortunately, he was able to get cell phone service and called 911 around 7:00 p.m. to ask for help from White County Public Safety.
Despite the frightening situation, Perry stayed surprisingly calm. Audio from his 911 call, which was shared with Inside Edition, showed that his main worry was for his father. After he indicated his location near a rock overhang, Perry asked if his incident would be reported in the news. The dispatcher assured him that it likely would not be. Perry expressed that he did not want his father to become worried about him.
However, the rescue operation was notable enough that Perry’s story did end up in the evening news. White County Public Safety used drones to find him on the rocky cliff. After locating him, firefighter Will Roper descended the mountain to bring Perry to safety. Roper mentioned to Fox News that while he had practiced with dummies and fellow firefighters, this was his first time rescuing a live person in such a critical situation. Roper noted that by the time he reached Perry, the climber was very tired but still composed. It took rescue teams 42 minutes to bring him safely down.
While mobile phone service can be unreliable in mountainous areas, the National Park Service highlights that a phone is often the quickest way to get help at high altitudes. For Perry, that weak cell signal was crucial for his rescue, despite the unintended spotlight it brought him. What do you think about how technology played a role in this rescue?
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Source: Upworthy, by Upworthy