Published September 1, 2026 04:23PM<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
A North Carolina climber was leading an ascent with his son on Shortoff Mountain, a rugged, remote wall in Linville Gorge, on August 30, when he fell 20 feet. Jacob Gregory, the climber, slammed into a rock\u00a0and suffered a critical injury. He needed a blood transfusion to save his life.<\/p>\n
So, Will Soper ran, literally, to the rescue.<\/p>\n
Soper, 28, is an EMT and technical rescuer with Burke Rescue Inc. and SAR<\/a>, a volunteer lifesaving unit serving central North Carolina. In just 31 minutes, Soper ran 1.5 miles through the gorge, gaining roughly 1,000 feet in elevation\u2014all while carrying a bag of blood\u00a0needed to stabilize the climber.<\/p>\n \u201cMy goal was simple: get the blood from the parking lot to the top of the rappel,\u201d Soper told Outside<\/em>.<\/p>\n When the accident was called in, Soper was teaching a training with Ashe County Rescue Squad, another SAR outfit about two hours away. He quickly packed his gear and hopped in the car, knowing that the rescue would require an all-hands-on-deck approach. First responders called in 24 agencies for assistance, including the North Carolina National Guard, which sent in a Black Hawk helicopter.<\/p>\n \u201cThe rescue occurred in a notoriously remote and challenging place to access,\u201d Soper told Outside<\/em>. \u201cAs soon as I heard the dispatch, I knew it would be a challenging rescue.\u201d<\/p>\n By the time Soper arrived at the trailhead, a first wave of rescuers had reached the patient. His condition deteriorated, and paramedics evaluating his vital signs on the scene radioed that the patient suffered internal bleeding and needed blood\u2014quickly.<\/p>\n \u201cWhen I was about halfway up the mountain I heard Incident Command requesting me: \u2018800 to Soper,\u2019\u201d Soper said. \u201cI responded: \u2018Go ahead, 800.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n Over the radio, a paramedic told Soper that he\u2019d need to turn around and run back to the parking lot to get a bag of blood and items used for a transfusion. He knew the route well, and with more than a decade of rock and ice climbing experience, was fit enough to carry the gear over such a steep elevation gain.<\/p>\n He made his way back down to the trailhead to pick up the blood bag, placed it in a cooler with extra cold packs to keep it viable, and ran everything up the mountain in a backpack.<\/p>\n \u201cOff I went,\u201d he said. \u201cIn all honesty, \u2018run\u2019 is a little bit hyperbolic. I maintained a fast hiking or jogging pace and made sure I didn\u2019t stop for any breaks.\u201d<\/p>\n Will stayed steady, ensuring not to overexert himself or, worse, make a small slip and hurt himself in the process. He reached the summit of the mountain, and then scrambled down a gully to where the climber was located<\/p>\n \u201cThis was the most treacherous part as I was tired and it is the steepest, slickest section,\u201d he said. \u201cI quickly reached the rappel station and handed off my backpack, with all of the supplies, to my colleague, Robert Vasile, who was waiting with harness and helmet on and ready to rappel. He made the descent smoothly and quickly before delivering the pack to the Paramedics.\u201d<\/p>\n Shortoff Mountain is notorious for its steep, rocky summit trail that is mostly unprotected from the sun, Soper said. The rescue took place at the bottom of one route, which is 2,800 feet high and requires a 200-foot scramble.<\/p>\n \u201cAt the bottom of the gully is what climbers call the \u2018rappel station,\u2019 which has fixed anchors located on top of an 80-foot cliff,\u201d Soper said. \u201cOnce you rappel down, you can access the bottom of the climbing routes. Although it is not the most populated climbing area, it is one of the most common areas for climber rescues.\u201d<\/p>\n As Soper ran, other rescuers worked their way down the mountain, establishing technical rope systems to reach and treat the patient. They transported the victim to Atrium Carolinas Medical Center in Charlotte.<\/p>\n Gregory\u00a0suffered multiple serious injuries and underwent emergency surgery on August 31, his family wrote on a GoFundMe page<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cIt is far too early to know what the coming weeks, months and possibly years will look like. His recovery will be long, and there are many unknowns ahead. What we do know is that Jacob has a tremendous amount to fight for,\u201d they wrote of the independent contractor. \u201cTo every responder who answered that call: thank you. You saved a life and brought a husband, father, brother, son, friend and loved one to safety.\u201d<\/p>\nLife-Saving Blood Was Packed into a Backpack<\/h2>\n
1.5 Miles, 1,000 Feet of Elevation Gain and 31 Minutes<\/h2>\n