A dramatic rescue late Friday afternoon as Department of Natural Resources rangers airlifted a hiker to safety in Dawson County.

News Chopper 2 was over the scene as the man was flown to safety.

The hiker broke several bones when he fell near a waterfall.

The 22-year-old hiker was alive, but in bad shape. Crews worked to get him out as quickly as possible.

The injured man fell about 25 feet while he and a friend were walking along Cochran Falls in Dawson County.

News Chopper 2 rushed to the scene and had the only camera there as rescuers got to the hiker and put him on a stretcher.

They secured the victim and a DNR helicopter hoisted him into the air and above the trees. That's when things got really wild.

The stretcher was cutting through the air at speeds around 40 mph.

It is unclear whether rescuers sedated him before the flight, but rescuers confirmed the man has multiple broken bones.

The state helicopter lowered the stretcher to the ground where a medical helicopter was waiting.

Paramedics made a quick transfer and got him airborne again.

The man is recovering at Grady Memorial Hospital in Atlanta.

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