ROANOKE COUNTY, Va. – UPDATE (May 31, 2022)
A hiker has died after falling off McAfee Knob early Sunday morning, according to Roanoke County Fire and Rescue.
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Authorities have identified the victim as Paul Classen, a 23-year-old from the Netherlands.
We’re told Classen died at the hospital on Sunday.
10 News is working for you to learn more
ORIGINAL STORY (May 29, 2022)
A man is critically injured after falling off McAfee Knob early Sunday morning.
At about 6 a.m., Roanoke County Fire and Rescue crews responded to the McAfee Knob summit in the Masons Cove area for reports of a hiker who fell from the top of a mountain.
Officials say the man, who is in his 20′s, fell about 50 feet and sustained life-threatening injuries, according to fire officials.
The rescue team was able to reach the injured man at about 6:54 a.m. and carried him from an extremely steep and rocky terrain to the top of the summit.
Three all-terrain vehicles, about 30 fire personnel, three police officers and a Carilion wilderness medicine doctor were involved in this rescue. They helped carry the man into an all-terrain vehicle before transporting him via helicopter to Roanoke Memorial Hospital.
The rescue team was off the trail by about 9:30 a.m.