- Four Asbury University students were camping in on Courthouse Rock in Red River Gorge in Kentucky despite severe weather warnings
- The group woke to find so much snow they could not climb down
- Instead Kentucky State Police rescued them by helicopter in ‘one of the most dangerous rescues ever attempted in the Gorge’
Four Kentucky college students have been rescued by helicopter after becoming stranded on Courthouse Rock in Kentucky’s Red River Gorge on Tuesday.
The Asbury University students were camping overnight despite Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear’s caution about the inclement weather on Monday.
The students awoke to find the amount of snow that had fallen would make it unsafe to climb down from the rock.
Dramatic video shows the moment helicopters arrived to rescue the students in the wintery conditions. They were eventually flown to safety, looking a little worse for wear from the ordeal.
Four Asbury University students were camping in on Courthouse Rock in Kentucky’s Red River Gorge despite severe weather warnings
Authorities said the rescue mission was ‘one of the most dangerous rescues ever attempted in the Gorge’
Other than being cold, all four students seemed to be in good spirits,’ police said
The students called for help around 9:30am Tuesday and the Powell County Fire and Rescue were dispatched to assess the trail conditions for the rescue. Rescuers soon realized icy conditions meant the only viable solution was to take the group down via helicopter.
‘Helicopters are inherently dangerous,’ Powell County Search and Rescue officials stated.
‘When that is deemed the safest option, you know you’ve found yourself in a potentially life or death situation.’
The Kentucky State Police flew the helicopter and evacuated the students at 2:05 pm Tuesday.
REDSTAR Wilderness EMS assisted with 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 with the rescue mission but there were no reported injuries
Rescuers quickly realized icy conditions meant the only viable solution was to take the group down via helicopter
‘Helicopters are inherently dangerous,’ Powell County Search and Rescue said
The Asbury University students were camping overnight despite Kentucky Governor’s Andy Beshear’s caution about the inclement weather
Police said the students appeared ‘in good spirits’ despite ‘being cold’
‘Other than being cold, all four students seemed to be in good spirits,’ police said.
‘This call was one of the most dangerous rescues ever attempted in the Gorge,’ Powell County Fire and Rescue said.
Adding: ‘Climbing Courthouse Rock is extremely treacherous even when conditions are favorable.’
The Gorge has been the site of several major accidents in recent years. In 2021, 24-year-old Gabriella Smith died in the Gorge following a hiking accident.
The second-year medical student from Alexandria was found at the bottom of a 150ft cliff.
A 25-year-old male camper was also found dead at a campsite near Hanson’s Point that year.