Bradley Falls victim identified as 20-year-old from Moore, S.C.
Published 10:00 pm Wednesday, May 11, 2016
The 20-year-old who fell from Big Bradley Falls on Monday, May 9 has been identified as Cody Barra, of Moore, S.C.
Barra was rescued late Monday night and airlifted to Mission Memorial Hospital in Asheville.
Barra was initially listed in stable, but critical condition.
It took rescuers from Polk and Henderson Counties about seven hours to extract Barra from the bottom of the falls. Barra is thought to have fallen approximately 50 ft.
Polk County Emergency Management Director Bobby Arledge said Polk called for assistance from the state N.C. HART to bring a helicopter to expedite Barra’s transport to the hospital. Barra was found at the bottom of the falls by two hikers around 3:15 p.m., Monday, May 9.
The Saluda Fire and Rescue, Polk County EMS, the Polk County Rescue Squad, Columbus Fire Department, Polk County Emergency Management, a representative from the state Emergency Management Department as well as several agencies from Henderson County assisted in the rescue, according to Arledge.
Bradley Falls is a common area for emergency rescues. Several people have died over the years from falling off the falls.
Several years ago, after crews rescued someone at Big Bradley Falls about once a year, officials placed caution signs in the area with some signs clearly stating people have died from falling.