S.C. man dies in 400-foot fall from Looking Glass Rock

BREVARD – A South Carolina man died Saturday after hiking to the top of Looking Glass Rock and falling from the sheer cliffs, the Transylvania County Rescue Squad reported.

Harold Wiggins, 68, of Lexington, South Carolina, had hiked with his wife and son to the top of the 3,970-foot-high peak in Pisgah National Forest on Saturday afternoon, said Brian Kreigsman, the rescue squad’s assistant chief.

“They were walking around on top and at one point noticed he wasn’t there. They came down and reported him missing,” Kreigsman said.

Rescue workers from the county rescue squad, Transylvania Sheriffs Department and U.S. Forest Service started searching around the base of the mountain about 9 p.m. but called off the search about 3:30 a.m.

Rescue workers recovered the man about 8:30 a.m. Sunday after a hiker discovered the body.

Wiggins may have fallen around 400 feet, Kreigsman said.

“It’s very rare that we have anyone fall from the top. Most of the calls we get are from rock climbers who fall 50 feet climbing at the base,” Kreigsman said.