Yesterday morning, an exceptional rescue mission occurred as a combined team of seven County Technical Rope Rescue specialists sprang into action. The team consisted of rope rescue technicians from the Walden’s Creek Volunteer Fire Department, several County Fire & Rescue, several County Volunteer Rescue Squad, and the Catons Chapel/Richardson’s Cove Volunteer Fire Department.
Just last year, the rope rescue team demonstrated their bravery by rescuing a hunting dog that fell into a deep cave in English Mountain. The dog, named Storm, became famous for his courageous ordeal. However, now it’s Storm’s cousin Charlie who found himself trapped about 40 feet down a narrow cave shaft.
The team responsible for rescuing the hunting dog quickly gathered at Pups Cove Road and made their way to the cave entrance. Firefighter Tori Downing and Captain Jon Lanier from WCFD were assigned to go into the cave and save the trapped dog. However, their mission took an unexpected turn when Firefighter Downing stumbled upon a sleeping bear just five feet below her after rounding a corner in the cave. Meanwhile, the trapped dog was further inside the cave system.
In response to the unexpected situation, the team made a swift decision to leave the cave. They strategically placed trail cameras near the cave’s entrance to keep tabs on the bear’s whereabouts. Upon their return today, they were relieved to find that the bear had left the cave and hadn’t returned.
The rescue mission progressed as Firefighter Christian Ellard from Walden’s Creek, Firefighter Andrew Wojturski from Sevier County Fire & Rescue, and Captain Jon Lapier from Walden’s Creek skillfully used a rope system to descend into the cave. They successfully located Charlie, who was trapped, and improvised a harness to secure him for rescue. Charlie was quickly and happily reunited with his relieved owner.
Charlie was trapped inside a cave for three consecutive days, and during this time, he had an unwanted companion – a 200-pound bear that was only two years old. Despite the distressing situation, Charlie managed to come out of the ordeal dehydrated and hungry but in good health.
This heartwarming rescue operation is a testament to the dedication and professionalism exhibited by the entire rescue team, as well as the collaborative efforts of everyone involved. It was truly a joint endeavor that required the collective resources and expertise of multiple departments to ensure its success.