First responders rescue missing hiker at Rainbow Lake Trail
PHOTO: Chief Mike Williams, Signal Mountain Police Department
HAMILTON COUNTY, Tenn. (WDEF) — First responders in Hamilton County conducted a rescue of a hiker at the Rainbow Lake Trail on Signal Mountain on Tuesday.
A woman called 911 Tuesday afternoon to report that her 45-year-old husband did not return from a hike at Rainbow Lake Trail Monday night. She also said his car was missing and he did not report to work, according to Hamilton County OEM.
Signal Mountain Fire and Police went to 309 Ohio Avenue on Signal Mountain, where they found the hiker’s vehicle. Waldens Ridge Emergency Services, Special Tactics Rescue Service and Hamilton County Office of Emergency Management’s drone team all responded to assist.
Rescuers pinged the hiker’s last location on his cell phone in the Rainbow Lake Trail area. One rescue team entered at the Rainbow Lake Trail, and one entered at Edwards Point in search of the man at 1:30 on Tuesday.
PHOTO: Chief Mike Williams, Signal Mountain Police Department
They then found the man just after 2 p.m. and said he had injuries.
A Hamilton County medic then hiked down to render aid to the patient. First responders then walked him out on the Edwards Point trail and took him to the hospital by ambulance at 4 p.m.
The extent of his injuries is currently unknown.
This is the second rescue attempt Hamilton County responders have made at Rainbow Lake in just three days.
On Sunday, two hikers died in a creek near the Rainbow Lake Trail.
