Nathaniel Clendenin is under investigation after allegedly faking a fall in Fairy Stone State Park in Virginia.
PATRICK COUNTY, Virginia — A North Carolina man is under investigation after allegedly staging a fall that triggered a large rescue operation at Fairy Stone State Park in Virginia, according to the Patrick County Sheriff’s Office.
911 Caller Claims 25-Foot Fall
On April 28 around 9:39 p.m., Patrick County 911 received a call from Nathaniel Clendenin, who claimed he had fallen 25 feet off a ledge in the Stuart’s Knob area of the park.
GPS data from the call led first responders to the remote location.
Crews Rush to Remote Ledge
Sheriff’s deputies, firefighters, EMS crews and a park ranger hiked in to find Clendenin lying on a narrow ledge, claiming to be injured and unable to move.
Crews worked quickly to secure him and prevent a further fall. A rope rescue team was activated, and a rescue helicopter was placed on standby.
Rope Rescue Brings Clendenin to Safety
Rescuers rappelled to Clendenin and secured him in a Stokes basket, raising him safely off the ledge. Officials said the terrain was too narrow to carry him out by hand.
No Injuries Found, False Report Alleged
Medical crews found no visible injuries. Clendenin was taken to SOVAH Hospital in Martinsville as a precaution and later released.
Deputies said Clendenin later admitted he had not fallen as he claimed.
History of False 911 Calls Uncovered
Investigators discovered Clendenin has a history in North Carolina of making false 911 calls claiming to need rescue.
He also falsely claimed to be a firefighter with Guilford County, officials said.
“Valuable resources were wasted, and countless lives were endangered, all because of a lie,” Patrick County Sheriff Dan Smith said.
Charges Expected
The investigation is ongoing, and multiple charges against Clendenin are expected.
About Fairy Stone State Park
Fairy Stone State Park is located in Patrick County, Virginia, about 15 miles east of the Blue Ridge Parkway near Meadows of Dan. While not directly on the Parkway, the park sits in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains and is a popular destination for hiking, camping, and searching for the park’s namesake “fairy stones”—rare cross-shaped crystals found in the area.
