A teenager was rescued from deep inside the woods of Avery County after being bitten by a rattlesnake. The incident prompted a multi-agency response, including the North Carolina Helo-Aquatic Rescue Team (NCHART) and Charlotte Fire Department technicians.
A National Guard Black Hawk helicopter assisted in the operation, airlifting the teen from a rocky creekside in the mountainous terrain. Once safely evacuated, the teenager was transported to a hospital for treatment.
North Carolina Emergency Management shared the details on Facebook, where Zain Shah identified himself as the bite victim.
Timber rattlesnakes are native to the region and often inhabit forested mountain areas.
According to NC PARC, timber rattlers are large, venomous snakes known for their chevron patterns and black tails. While generally reclusive ambush predators, they pose serious risks when encountered. Their population remains stable in the mountains and Coastal Plain but has declined in the Piedmont due to habitat loss.
