Hunter Who Fell From Tree Stand Rescued By MD Helicopter

FLINTSTONE, MD — Troopers from the Maryland State Police Aviation Command rescued a hunter who fell from a tree stand Saturday in Allegany County.

About 12:30 p.m. Saturday, rescue personnel from Allegany County were dispatched to Greenridge State Forest for an injured hunter who fell about 15 feet from a tree stand. Due to the severity of the victim’s injuries and the time involved to rescue the person, the Maryland State Police Aviation Command was called to the scene.

Trooper 5, the MSP helicopter based in Cumberland, was dispatched.

Emergency medical services and rescue personnel maintained cared for the patient on the ground and helped as a trooper/rescue technician was lowered into a clearing in the dense woods, where the victim was located.

As the pilots hovered over the wooded area in the Greenridge State Forest, they maneuvered the helicopter into a steady 125-foot hover and hoisted the victim into the helicopter. Once the patient was safely in the aircraft, the flight crew was able to perform a medical evacuation and the victim was flown to a local hospital for treatment.

The Maryland State Police Aviation Command staffs each helicopter with two pilots and two state trooper/medical clinicians. The MSPAC has served since 1970 and operates a fleet of 10 AW139 helicopters from seven bases in Maryland. Each aircraft provides round-the-clock coverage to Maryland residents and visitors. The agency’s missions include medevac, law enforcement, search and rescue, homeland security, and disaster assessment.