Trooper 3 crew performs aerial hoist operation in Washington County.
Frederick, MD (JK) – Maryland State Police Helicopter Trooper 3, based in Frederick, carried out a hoist rescue for a hiker in Washington County on Saturday afternoon.
Around 1:33 p.m., Aviation Command crews were dispatched to the Maryland Heights Overlook, where a hiker was experiencing a medical emergency. Due to the severity of the patient’s condition and the difficulty of removing them by ground, Washington County officials requested an aerial extraction.
Pilots positioned the AW-139 helicopter approximately 125 feet above the cliff while a trooper-paramedic was lowered to the ground. The patient was stabilized, secured, and lifted back into the aircraft before being flown to Meritus Medical Center in Hagerstown for treatment.
The operation was supported by Washington County Fire and Rescue Services and the Frederick County Department of Fire and Rescue Services. Maryland State Police Aviation Command has served since 1970, with missions that include medevac, law enforcement, search and rescue, homeland security, and disaster assessment.
By Jimmy Key