Edgewater Plane Crash Rescue Video Released, Tape Shows Officer Kayaking To Victim

EDGEWATER, MD — County police on Tuesday released the video of an officer kayaking to a plane crash victim in Edgewater.

The Anne Arundel County Police Department identified the officer as Elizabeth Myers.

The body camera video, which is posted here, shows Myers boarding the kayak moments after a small plane crashed into the frozen Beards Creek on Monday.

Myers grabbed the kayak on the shoreline at 10:36 a.m. and placed it in the icy water.

Given the creek's slick frozen surface, the oars of the kayak weren't much help. Myers instead used screwdrivers to propel herself. She reached the scene of the crash at 10:42 a.m.

Two unidentified good samaritans also kayaked to the crash site. Those civilians boarded the victim onto a kayak and then onto a Maryland Natural Resources Police boat, county officers said. That vessel brought the victim to an awaiting ambulance on shore.

The Maryland State Police said the ambulance took the injured pilot, identified as 71-year-old Steve Couchman of Prince Frederick, to the Anne Arundel Medical Center for treatment.

Shortly before 10:30 a.m. Monday, state troopers from the Glen Burnie and Annapolis Barracks were dispatched to the report of a plane crash near Lee Airport. According to a state police news release, moments after Couchman took off, the plane's engine began sputtering. Witnesses told police they heard the sputter and shortly thereafter, they heard the Piper Cherokee single-engine plane crash into the creek.

The pilot, who was the only occupant, escaped the cockpit and stood on the wing while the plane was sinking. Once the kayakers were close enough, Couchman was able to hang on to one of them to stay afloat.

Moments later, officers from the Maryland Natural Resources Police reached the scene by boat. An officer cut through the ice and pulled the pilot safely into the boat and took him to the Annapolis Landing Marina nearby, where he was subsequently taken by ambulance to the hospital.

None of the kayakers were injured during the rescue operation.

The pilot's injuries were not life-threatening, officials with the Anne Arundel County Fire Department said.

Lee Airport primarily serves small civilian planes

"Great job by all who responded!" the fire department tweeted.

Related: Kayakers Rescue Pilot After Plane Crashes In Creek Near Edgewater

This map shows the area where the plane crash happened.