Free climber stranded 250 ft up on a 20-inch ledge with no safety gear called 911 one-handed — his final question made the responder laugh
Every step during a hike is a matter of life and death, and one cannot afford to take the wrong step. However, fate had other plans when a hiker named Thomas Perry was stranded over 200 feet up on a 20-by-20-inch ledge on August 25, 2026, while free climbing. With no support around him, he was forced to stand upright, with only his cell phone accessible, which ultimately helped save his life. When he called 911 for help, his question left the responder in stitches despite this critical situation.
White County Public Safety (WCPS) received an urgent call from Perry in North Georgia at 7 p.m. According to reports, Perry was stranded on the side of Mount Yonah, a 3,166-foot granite dome located 90 miles northeast of Atlanta. He called 911 with one hand while hanging on with the other and calmly informed them about the crisis. He then posed an unexpected question on the call, "I'm not going on the news or anything, am I?" The responder chuckled and immediately answered, "I don't think so, no." The hiker revealed the reason for asking this question and mentioned that he didn't want his dad to worry about him.
One misstep and Perry would have fallen 250 feet down the mountain. He had no safety rope, no harness, no hiking boots, just his regular sneakers and a heavy backpack. On the call with 911, Perry described his condition, mentioning that he could not move up or down safely, which underscored the seriousness of the situation. Authorities were quick to take action and used a drone to locate the climber's exact position on the large mountain. After confirming that he could not move an inch safely, a White County firefighter named Will Roper rappelled down the mountain to rescue the hiker.
A video showed Perry clinging to the mountain, facing down, while Roper carefully made his way toward him. Roper admitted he was unsure whether Perry was a minute or two hours away from falling, but he knew that if Perry fell, it would be fatal. When the rescuer arrived, he noticed that the climber's hands and legs were shaking. He asked Perry to stand on one leg so he could secure a harness around him.
According to Roper, Perry remained calm and collected during the rescue operation. Roper told Outside that the climber was apologetic when he reached him. He told Roper that he had gone on the wrong line while climbing the giant mountain. The rescuer also praised Perry's decision to call for help instead of taking a step ahead without assurance. The entire rescue took 47 minutes, and Perry was rescued safely.
Keeping calm during a difficult situation can help you think clearly and choose the safest course of action. A similar incident occurred when 82-year-old Joan Rivet fell into a bathtub after losing her balance, leaving her unable to move or call for help. She suffered a painful back injury and remained in the same condition for nine days before she was rescued. To survive, she used her foot to reach the bathtub faucet and drink water, as she knew she wouldn't make it without it.
The search for her began when her brother Bill Lesko became worried after her disappearance. In her critical condition, Rivet relied on prayers and remained mentally strong. Authorities finally rescued her nine days after the incident, but she was semi-conscious and extremely weak. After being taken to the hospital and receiving proper care, Rivet survived the ordeal.