Last Updated on June 10, 2025 5:53 pm
A 17-year-old from Charlotte was rescued from the Pisgah National Forest after a timber rattlesnake bit him. The incident occurred on June 2, according to the North Carolina Emergency Management (NCEM).
According to the Charlotte Observer, the victim was identified as Zain Shah. He told the outlet that he was bitten by a large rattlesnake, two miles from the nearest road.
In the comment section of a Facebook post by NCEM, Imran Shah identified himself as Zain's father and commented,
“What started as a fun end-of-high-school fishing trip for my son and his buddy in the W NC mountains turned deadly when he was bitten by a timber rattlesnake deep in the woods. I'm beyond grateful for the incredible NCHART and Linville-Central Rescue teams, who got to them in the middle of nowhere and saved his life! He was air-lifted to and treated at Johnson City Medical Center, TN, and is now recovering at home. We are forever in your debt. #NCHART #Linville-Central-Rescue”
Avery County responders, North Carolina Helo-Aquatic Rescue Team (NCHART), a North Carolina National Guard Blackhawk, and rescue technicians from the Charlotte Fire Department all responded to the scene.
Photos: NC Emergency Management
