Patients and staff were stranded at a flooded Tennessee hospital

More than 50 people were stranded at a Tennessee hospital until they were rescued in a daring rescue operation.

More than 50 people were stranded Friday at an eastern Tennessee hospital due to fast-rising water and high winds, after several attempts to airlift them failed during a dangerous rescue operation, Ballad Health officials said.

The high winds and water levels prevented helicopter crews from airlifting patients and staff from Unicoi County Hospital in Erwin, Tennessee, hospital officials said.

Some people were waiting on the hospital's roof to be rescued.

“The situation at the hospital is very dangerous,” Ballad Health said on X, adding the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency and National Guard were engaged “in what can only be described as a dangerous rescue operation.”

Patients and staff members are evacuated from Unicoi County Hospital on Friday.Erwin Police Chief Regan TilsonAll patients and team members have been rescued from the hospital and patients were transferred to another medical center, Ballad Health, which operates Unicoi County Hospital, said Friday night. Earlier in the afternoon it said 54 people were relocated to the roof of the facility and seven were in rescue boats.

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/patients-staff-stranded-flooded-tennessee-hospital-rcna173070

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