Teen falls from Linville Gorge overlook, lands in tree | Public Spaces

BURKE COUNTY, NC (WBTV) - A 17-year-old had to be rescued after falling about 50 feet from an overlook near Linville Falls in Burke County Tuesday afternoon.

Michael Sheheta, of Queens, New York, was visiting the area with his family when he fell around 4 p.m. from the Erwin View overlook. 

Capt. Brad Browning of Burke County Emergency Medical Services said Sheheta walked outside of the designated safety rail on the overlook.

While standing on the other side of the barrier, Sheheta slipped on some pine needles and fell several feet landing in a laurel bush.

A North Carolina Army National Guard Helicopter Aquatic Rescue Team (HART) was called to assist with the rescue and to lift the teen from a narrow ledge where he landed.

"It was just a normal mission," said Mike Young, the pilot who commanded the aircraft. "We've been training for this, we showed up, and because we've been training as frequently as we have been, it was just a standard mission. You just do what you you're trained to do."

A helicopter was needed because there was no way to reach Sheheta by climbing up, or down to him, rescuers said.

Fortunately, Young and his crew mates had been on training missions all day in the Wilson Creek area of Caldwell County.

They had done several practice missions when they received the call to help with the rescue at about 5:30 p.m.

Sheheta was raised to the aircraft and then taken to an area not far away. He was not seriously injured and was able to walk away from the helicopter.

According to Hikewnc.info, Erwin Overlook is one of three along the Erwin's View overlook at Linville Falls. 

Copyright 2011 WBTV. All rights reserved.