Child falls at Little Mulberry Park, is airlifted

An eight-year-old boy was airlifted to the hospital Wednesday after falling 10-15 feet down a ravine in a wooded area of a park in Auburn.

The incident occurred at around 4:15 p.m. in a nature preserve at Little Mulberry Park in Gwinnett County, which is a series of trails for hiking and walking and steep trails designed for equestrian use. The incident occurred on the Fence Road side of the park. The trail was off about one and a half to two miles into the park.

Gwinnett County firefighters were alerted of the accident after an off-duty Gwinnett firefighter/paramedic was hiking nearby and heard the child's brother calling for help.

The child was reportedly at the park with his mother and several other children. The group was approximately 30-50 yards off the actual path over a wooden split-rail fence that acts as a barrier and is located in an overlook point adjacent to the trail.
Authorities do not know how or why the child came to be on the water fall. Fire crews had to carry the child “a considerable distance through the woods and up a slanted ravine” to safety, a press release states.

When paramedics found him, he was conscious, alert and breathing and was able to speak.

He was taken from the woods by firefighters using a long-spine board and carried to a waiting helicopter for transport to the hospital by 5:15 p.m.

Authorities airlifted the boy in stable condition to Scottish Rite Children's Hospital for evaluation and treatment of his injuries.

Visitors to the park are encouraged to stay on the path and not venture out to unfamiliar or potentially hazardous areas.