State Police Helicopter Rescues Injured Hiker In Western MD

SANDY HOOK, MD — A Maryland State Police Helicopter Trooper 3, based in Frederick, rescued an injured hiker in Washington County Saturday afternoon.

Rescuers were dispatched to the Maryland Heights Overlook cliff to help a hiker with a medical emergency, according to a state police news release. Due to the severity of the patient’s condition and challenging hike if extricated by ground resources, a helicopter was requested to perform an aerial hoist.

With assistance provided on the ground by Washington County Fire and Rescue Services and the Frederick County Department of Fire and Rescue Services, pilots maneuvered the helicopter about 125 feet above the cliff. A trooper/paramedic was lowered to the ground, where he prepared the patient for recovery back to the aircraft.

The patient was flown to Meritus Medical Center in Hagerstown for treatment of their injuries.

The Maryland State Police operates a fleet of 10 AW139 helicopters from seven bases. 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.