19-year-old hiker who fell from Soddy-Daisy trail in critical condition

Rescuers carry an injured hiker at the Pocket Wilderness near Soddy-Daisy. The 19-year-old Nashville man was hiking with friends when he fell down a bluff, hit his head on a rock and landed in a creek. He is listed in critical condition at Erlanger, authorities said.

Photo by Contributed Photo /Chattanooga Times Free Press.

The 19-year-old man who fell Saturday from a trail in the Pocket Wilderness near Soddy-Daisy is stable but still in critical condition, authorities said.

Meg Lockhart, spokeswoman for the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation, said Monday that the investigation was complete and TDEC has no further involvement in the case.

"He ventured off-trail," said Lockhart. "He was not on the trail. It was slick, and he fell down the bluff."

The young man was hiking with friends Saturday when he fell 15 feet and hit his head on the rocks below. He was airlifted to Erlanger in a LifeForce helicopter.

Park officials notified the man's parents Saturday, but the family had not released the man's name as of Monday.