News Talk 94.1/AM 1600 Where The Upper Cumberland Talks
A missing hiker in White County located Wednesday morning after being lost overnight near Virgin Falls.
Sheriff Steve Page said a group of four under prepared hikers were separated near White Cave. Page said three hikers made it out safe while one female was left behind.
“People don’t realize the dangers of hiking Virgin Falls unequipped and that seems to be a big issue for us,” Page said. “We were discussing that this morning. We’re down in that area a lot and most of the time it is for unexperienced hikers that go in unequipped.”
Page said the hiker was reported missing around 4:00 p.m. Tuesday. Page said several emergency crews searched the area into the early morning. Page said the woman was found around 9:30 a.m. this morning close to a rangers station.
“They got separated after about an hour,” Page said. “Two individuals round up down at Virgin Falls. It was a male and a female and they got separated from each other, because the female could not move as fast. They were both exhausted, so the male was trying to get out to get help. When they contacted us, they let us know that the female had not got out. That’s when we initiated the search process.”
Page said it was an unintentional situation that luckily turned out okay. Page said the county’s rescue squad, EMA and fire departments all assisted. Page said Cookeville responders also provided drones to help the search.
