Raven Cliff Falls ‘miracle’ rescue saves teen hiker

A team effort consisting of 19 agencies and several hours on May 20 resulted in the successful rescue of a hiker who had fallen from Raven Cliff Falls.

In describing the nearly 8-hour rescue effort, officials called it one of their most challenging in recent memory, and the fact the victim suffered only minor injuries “a miracle.” 

The hiker was identified as Ava Marinelli, 19, of Cumming, Ga., according to a news release from White County Public Safety. 

Rescue personnel found a female patient who had fallen approximately 40-50 feet down a waterfall from the top of the falls and about 100 feet from the bottom, according to officials. The female was lodged in a very narrow area where the rock faces of the falls came together, making rescue operations extremely tricky.

White County Fire Services responded to Raven Cliff Falls Friday evening at approximately 5:20 p.m., according to White County emergency response officials. 

Rescue crews made contact with the patient at 6:50 p.m. Two rescuers ascended down to the patient and began working shortly after. 

“Georgia State Patrol lowered two members from Cobb County GSAR team in to assist rescuers. Members from Gainesville’s GSAR (Georgia Search and Rescue) Task Force 1 Team and Rabun County TRT also responded to the scene to assist due to the dangerous terrain and extreme technicality of the call,” according to the news release. 

“It was quite a team effort. A very challenging scene,” said Lt. Chris Wright, of Rabun County SAR, who aided in the rescue along with five other Rabun County SAR members. 

“I was amazed to see the different teams from different areas, different training come together as one to complete this very technical rescue mission,” said Rabun County EMA Director Brian Panell.

Rescue personnel worked tirelessly on freeing the lodged victim throughout the evening. The patient was freed from the rock crevice at 11:16 p.m. The patient was lifted to the top of the falls by rope personnel at 11:42 p.m. and was evaluated by EMS personnel, according to White County officials. 

The patient appeared to have only received minor injuries and was able to walk, assisted by rescuers, off of the falls and down the trail area. The patient was extricated from the trail area at 1:34 a.m. and further evaluated and transported by White County EMS. Rescue crews remained on scene until approximately 3:30 a.m. cleaning up rescue supplies and getting all personnel and equipment off of the mountain, officials said. 

Marinelli was transported to Northeast Georgia Medical Center. 

“It literally felt like a miracle had just happened,” said Wright, noting the outcome at first looked dire, but it ended the best possible way. Wright said it was one of the most challenging rescues of his career. 

“Something that seemed very grim at first, turned out to be a miracle,” Panell said.  

White County Public Safety thanked the agencies who assisted in making the rescue mission successful: White County 911; White County Fire; White County EMS; White County EMA; White County CERT; White County Sheriff’s Office; Helen Fire; Hall County EMA; Clarke County EMA; Rabun County EMA, Rabun County SAR TRT; Cobb County TRT; Gainesville-GSAR Task Force; GSAR 6 Team-NW Georgia; GEMA; GSP Aviation; U.S. Forest Service Law Enforcement; Georgia DNR Law Enforcement; Northeast Georgia Medical Center Trauma Team; and Life Force 14. 

“With your help we were able to obtain the best possible outcome for the patient and rescue personnel,” according to a statement from White County officials.