Tapoco – The heat and humidity may have been too much for 72-year-old Raleigh resident William Barnes, on a hike to Bear Creek Falls on July 14.
Barnes and his wife had left on the hike near Tapoco Lodge sometime before 1 p.m. A request for assistance was first answered by their employees of the lodge. When it became evident that more help was needed, members of Graham County Fire and Rescue, Meadow Branch Fire Department, Graham County EMS, and the U.S. Forest Service responded.
Rescuers reached Barnes – who appeared to be exhausted – with a basket stretcher at 2:25 p.m., and arrived at the lodge around 3 p.m. By this time, Barnes had recovered to the point that he was not transported for further treatment.