On June 29, 2010 at approximately 6:40 p.m. the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office was dispatched to 6500 Forrest Park Drive to the Falling Water Nature Trail regarding a fall from the cliff area of the trail. When deputies arrived, they spoke with the complainant who stated he and two females went swimming in a pool type area about one mile from the road. They were climbing up a cliff and used a rope that had been previously placed by other hikers. The victim, 21 year old Toni Bedwell slipped off the rope, striking her head and facial area before she fell about thirty feet to the ground.

The victim suffered injuries to her face and head and the rescue and extrication took about three hours. Several different emergency services agencies took part in the rescue and are identified as Walden’s Ridge Fire Department, Lone Oak Fire Department, Hamilton County Emergency Medical Services, Signal Mountain Fire Department and the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office. The victim was moved to the Mountain Opry where she was airlifted to Erlanger Hospital by Life Force.

The extent of Ms. Bedwell’s injuries are not known