Gainesville firefighters awarded for saving teen who fell 70 feet down waterfall, got stuck

HALL COUNTY, Ga — Several Gainesville firefighters were awarded for their bravery at the city’s council meeting after an incident where they saved a teen who had gotten wedged between two boulders at a Georgia waterfall this past summer.

Training Chief Eric Stover received the Valor Award. Stover was credited and awarded with taking extraordinary measures to help rescue a 17-year-old hiker who became stuck between two boulders and a waterfall in White County this past summer.

On the night of May 20, eight members of the Gainesville Fire Department arrived in White County to help a hiker who had fallen from the waterfall at Raven Cliffs.

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“A 17-year-old female had lost her footing and fell over 70 feet, and became wedged between two boulders at the waterfall nearly 100 feet above the ground. The hiker remained stuck for over five hours due to the remote location and lack of resources available. Training Chief Eric Stover spent 53 minutes working to free the hiker while hanging in a harness about the waterfall himself. Because of his training and determination, the 17-year-old was able to leave the hospital a few days later with only minor injuries,” said Gainesville Fire Chief Brandon Ellis.

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Several other firefighters in the city were honored with awards on Tuesday.

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