Helicopter rescue crews lifted four people from a steep gorge in a training exercise aimed at saving lives.
The North Carolina Helo Aquatic Rescue Team is training mountain resuce workers in the Du Pont State Forest in Transylvania County.
The chopper hovered over Bridal Veil Falls as emergency crews lowered themselves 110 feet down ropes to the bottom of the waterfall.
National Guard helicopter pilots headquartered in Salisbury support the Helo Team.
But state emergency managers fly only about ten missions a year because of the $4,000 dollar-an-hour cost.
Rescue workers say the helicopter rescue can save lives when crews face long hikes over rugged terrain to get accident victims to the hospital.
Helicopter Rescue Training
Posted: Wednesday, November 4 2009, 04:04 PM CST
