Rescuers complete first such operation after retired Channel 2 anchor fell into ravine

No matter how difficult it is, first responders are ready to save lives in one of the toughest locations in the Georgia mountains.

one of the members Channel 2 Action News The family only recently learned.

“I’m Carol Sparky. I’ve been an anchor and reporter at Channel 2 for 29 years.

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Sbarge, now retired from WSB-TV, is an experienced hiker. The incident happened while she and her boyfriend were on a Chattahoochee National Forest trail in September.

“Somehow, as I was walking on the trail, my foot hit a rock. And before I knew it, I was tumbling down this canyon,” she said.

Back on foot? Impossible.

“I broke [it] Three places here. This is the area behind the ankle. So I have a board here and then I have eight screws,” Sparta said as she showed off her injury to Channel 2’s Linda Stover.

Sparky and her boyfriend were so estranged at first that they couldn’t even get through on the phone. Another hiker helped place a 911 call, which was placed to Habersham County Emergency Services.

The crew traveled as far as they could before requiring specialized equipment for a wilderness rescue.

“This is a rope bag. It comes with all the ropes and connections needed for a rescue.

They picked up their gear and hiked about two miles to Sparky. The staff lifted her onto a wheel board. But then more 911 calls came in, and paramedics were needed in multiple locations at the same time.

“We have a medical unit going to the canyon right now. We have another medical unit going to Panther Creek. Plus other calls that are going on,” said Habersham County Supervisor Jeffrey Adams.

So they made the fateful decision to do something they had only practiced at the Georgia Department of Natural Resources: conduct the first helicopter rescue at Panther Creek Falls.

“So she was stable and we let the pilot know what was going on and we did that,” Battalion Chief Jason Garrett said.

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“That’s me tied to a chair,” Sparta said as she showed Stover a video of her rescue.

Sbarge floated 3.6 miles above the Chattahoochee National Forest on his way to the hospital.

“This is a textbook practice for us. It’s perfect,” Adams said.

“This is a perfect situation to use what we’ve trained for,” Garrett said.

“They’re just special people. They put themselves in danger. You know, they don’t know what kind of danger they’re going to face every day,” Sparta said.

“It’s great. It means we’ve done our job. We’ve done a good job at it and we’ve got her wherever she needs to go. It makes me feel good,” paramedic Phillip Kimbrel said .

“It’s awesome. I’m so grateful,” Sparta said.

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