Victim is 9th fall from waterfall since 2000

SALUDA—Another hiker has lost his life after falling from Big Bradley Falls over the weekend.  

The Polk County Sheriff’s Office said the victim was Aaron Post, 28, of Charleston, S.C. 

The fall occurred on Saturday where a witness said Post fell near the top of Big Bradley Falls. Post was said to have slid down the rock face into the water. 

Initially it was reported that Post was airlifted to the hospital and was in critical condition. Agencies learned on Sunday that Post died as a result of the fall. 

Polk County Emergency Management Director and Fire Marshal Bobby Arledge said more than 50 rescue personnel rushed to the scene. Some rappelled down to the base from the top of the falls to try to rescue the victim. 

A helicopter crew dropped a basket from the top to rescue Post from the bottom. 

Crews from Polk County and surrounding counties assisted in the rescue. 

Post’s fall is the 9th from Big Bradley since 2000 and only one of those victims has survived. 

The Saluda Fire and Rescue Department requested the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission to place barriers after the last death from the falls in 2017, but those barriers have not yet been placed. There are signs at the falls that clearly state the dangers and that people have died from falling. 

The last fatal fall occurred in 2017 when a Charlotte man who was hiking with his two daughters lost his footing and fell over 100 feet from the top of the falls. 

In 2016, a South Carolina man fell about 50 feet from the falls and is the only victim to have survived since 2000. 

In 2017, Saluda officials said crews are rescuing someone from the falls about once a year. 

Other deadly falls have included a Saluda man who fell in 2012 and since rain and storms had been in the area at the time, it took rescuers many hours, including through the night to recover the body. 

In 2008 a North Carolina Division of Forest Resources employees died after falling about 50 feet working a fire in the area.