Man dies after falling from Whittleton Arch in Red River Gorge
A man died Saturday after falling at the Red River Gorge area, according to Powell County Search and Rescue.
Officials were called around 4 p.m. for a man who had fallen about 40 feet from the top of Whittleton Arch. The hiker was in critical condition when search and rescue workers arrived.
Whittleton Arch is one of the largest natural arches in the area and a popular hike in Red River Gorge, according to Kentucky State Parks.
The man was transported to Middlefork Fire Department and then flown to UK’s Albert B. Chandler Hospital in Lexington, where he died from his injuries, the organization said.
On Tuesday, the Fayette County Coroner’s Office identified the man as Cameron Smoot, 24, of Mason, Ohio, a suburban community about 20 miles north of downtown Cincinnati. His death is being investigated as an accident.
Multiple organizations worked to rescue the hiker, including Powell County Search and Rescue, Lee County Search and Rescue, Tri-Community Volunteer Fire Department and Kentucky State Parks.
“What may usually be a simple slip can be life-threatening at height,” Powell County Search and Rescue said. “Stay vigilant of the ground around you and be sure to always stay a safe distance from the edge!”
Editor’s note: This story has been updated to correct the date of the incident.
This story was originally published September 1, 2025 at 9:47 AM.