A gripping rescue unfolded on a Georgia cliffside when a free climber, marooned on a precarious ledge, dialed 911 for help. The dramatic rescue, involving a heroic firefighter’s descent, took place on Tuesday.
The climber, yet to be publicly named by authorities, found himself stranded on the west face of Mount Yonah—a daunting 3,166-foot peak nestled within the Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forest in North Georgia.
White County Public Safety officials reported that the climber, feeling trapped between the unforgiving stone and open air, made the emergency call around 7 p.m. Unable to navigate the perilous route up or down, he sought assistance.
In a strategic rescue operation, authorities deployed a drone to pinpoint the climber’s location, ultimately spotting him perched on a narrow 20-inch by 20-inch ledge, some 260 feet above ground level.
The heroic moment came as White County firefighter Will Roper skillfully maneuvered beneath the stranded climber, who clung to the rocky face of Mount Yonah on the eventful evening of August 25, 2026. (White County Public Safety)
White County firefighter Will Roper rappelled down the mountain to reach the man. Drone video showed Roper maneuvering beneath him before securing him in a harness and clipping him to the rope. The climber was then hoisted to the top of the mountain.
The entire rescue operation took about 42 minutes, officials said.
Roper told FOX 5 Atlanta said this was the first time he’s had to rescue someone on a mountain.
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Firefighter Will Roper goes over the edge of Mount Yonah on Aug. 25 to rescue a stranded climber. (White County Public Safety)
“I’ve done a lot with dummies and a lot with other firefighters in training, but that’s the first time that I’ve ever done it, kind of in the heat of the moment with a live subject,” Roper said.
“It was a little nerve-racking going over the edge,” he added.
Roper said the climber was strikingly calm, telling FOX 5 he jokingly asked him: “Have you been rescued before? You’re pretty good at this.”
Will Roper and the free climber are seen on the west face of Mount Yonah during the Aug. 25 rescue operation. (White County Public Safety)
The climber told Roper that he had experience with Mount Yonah but simply picked the wrong route and got stuck.
“I’ve been on kind of a high since then, just to have the first rescue,” Roper said, adding that he was glad to be able to help someone using his technical training.