RANDLEMAN N.C. (ACME NEWS) — A minor was airlifted with life-threatening injuries Wednesday after falling into a turbine shaft at the site of the old Worthville Mill near the Worthville Dam in Randleman, according to Randolph County emergency officials.
The call came in shortly before 5 p.m. with Randolph County EMS saying the victim was fishing when he fell approximately 30 feet into an old turbine shaft that once powered the mill from the dam.
The mill, which sits on the Deep River southeast of Randleman beside the Worthville Dam, burned to the ground in January 2024 in a blaze that drew more than a dozen fire departments and prompted evacuations of nearby homes. Though the structure is gone, active infrastructure tied to the dam remains on the site.
Rescue crews faced challenges reaching the victim, who was reported conscious and breathing at the scene, according to dispatch logs. A medical transport helicopter from UNC AirCare was dispatched and the victim was airlifted from the nearby Worthville Ball Field in critical condition — shortly before 6 p.m.
Multiple agencies responded, including Randolph County EMS, the Randleman Fire Department, the Randleman Police Department and the Asheboro Fire Department.
No update on the condition of the victim was available at the time of publication.
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