Woman trapped between rocks for six hours after falling 50 feet

We are learning how first responders were able to rescue a young woman who fell 50 feet from the top of a waterfall.

Channel 2′s Tom Regan spoke with some of the firefighters, who say this was the most challenging rescue they’ve ever done.

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This was an extremely technical rescue in a steep remote area in the dark. It involved dozens of first responders working to free a young woman trapped in a crevice on the waterfall.

For 19-year-old Ava Marinelli, a fun hike with friends Friday to the top of Raven Cliffs Falls suddenly turned terrifying.

As she walked to leave the falls, she slipped and plunged diagonally around 40-50 feet and became trapped between some rocks.

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“She was trapped between her chest and her waist, and her feet were dangling. And it was a nightmare situation for us. We had to set up a technical rope system using some of our equipment here,” said Capt. Robbie Burke with White County Fire and Rescue. “We had (a) rescue technician that we actually lowered down to her from above, and once we were able to go down, we knew she was stuck and the difficulty grew exponentially.”

For six hours, rescuers dangling from 100 feet worked to free the college student fighting dark conditions and cold creek water. Finally, they got Marinelli out.

“To me it was just instant relief,” Burke said, “for her to be able to come and make that embrace. Once she made it to the top, it was one of the best feelings in my life.”

Marinelli, a GSU student and arts major, expressed gratitude to first responders, texting, “a special thank you to the brave rescuers who worked tirelessly to free me from the waterfall.” The rescuers said Marinelli was “a brave young woman in a very tough predicament.”

“That girl had the good Lord with her. She was very blessed in the situation that she was in,” said Battalion Chief Josh Baylor

Marinelli was actually able to walk back to the trailhead. Her mom said she broke a bone in her foot and had abrasions, but is recovering well.

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