Tourist ‘severely injured’ by horse in Great Smoky Mountains, officials say
A tourist was severely injured by a horse in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, and had to be flown by helicopter to a hospital 40 miles away, according to first responders.
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It happened Tuesday on the Tennessee side of the 522,427-acre park, which welcomes visitors on horseback.
“Rangers responded and provided initial medical care after a visitor was thrown from a horse,” park officials told The Charlotte Observer.
“The visitor was transported to the Sugarlands (visitor center) area with assistance from the Gatlinburg Fire Department and was then airlifted by the Tennessee National Guard to the University of Tennessee Medical Center.”
Details of the person’s injuries were not released.
Tennessee National Guard officials say the rider was “severely injured” and in need of “advanced medical treatment.”
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The airlift was handled by a UH-60 Blackhawk crew from Knoxville’s 1-230th Assault Helicopter Battalion, officials said.
Great Smoky Mountains National Park has five “horse camps” and allows visitors to ride their horses on about 550 miles of hiking trails. The park also has its own stables and offers guided horseback rides March through November.
Great Smoky Mountains National Park is about a 150-mile drive northwest from uptown Charlotte.
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