Kooiman seriously injured in 25-foot drop from Great Falls
A local man was airlifted from the gorge near Rock Island Sunday after he slipped and fell from atop Great Falls.
The victim, Matt Kooiman, 24, who had just moved here from Arizona, suffered severe leg injuries as a result of his fall Sunday afternoon.
According to Joe Moore of Rock Island State Park, Kooiman fell approximately 25 feet from atop the falls which is located close to the overlook near the dam. Moore said Kooiman and some friends were apparently jumping from atop the falls, which are about 25 feet in height, when the victim lost his footing and fell. Kooiman struck a rock outcrop on the way down before landing hard on a rock ledge below.
Due to his location below the falls, rescue workers had to rig a special backboard with life vest attachments to float him across the water to rendezvous with the LifeForce helicopter which made its landing in the gorge nearby.
Moore said the injuries were not believed to be life-threatening although the leg fractures were serious. Kooiman, who is being treated at Erlanger Hospital in Chattanooga, said he is looking forward to returning to Rock Island once he has mended from the accident.