A Western Carolina University senior was injured Sunday after falling off a Macon County waterfall.
Gioia Holland was hiking with friends at Glen Falls two-miles outside of Highlands when she slipped.
According to Highlands EMS reports, the 21-year-old student from Marion fell about 80 feet on Sunday evening. Highland rescue workers received the call at about 7:15pm and it took about 45 minutes for them to hike in and carry Holland out.
Holland was airlifted to Mission Hospital in Asheville where it was determined she suffered a crushed ankle, a collapsed lung, a broken jawbone and teeth, broken bones in her back and deep cuts to her groin and head from the fall.
She was downgraded to stable condition on Monday morning from critical condition.
Holland is a senior majoring in information technology at WCU and works as a leasing agent for Catamount Peaks Apartments.
Holland’s fall was the second at Glen Falls in one-month. A 16-year-old boy was injured after falling at the same spot on June 16.
