Maryland police crew hoists hiker from crevasse
Maryland State Police helicopter crew rescued an injured hiker from a crevasse next to Chimney Rock, Catoctin Mountain National Park, Maryland, US.
A Maryland State Police helicopter crew rescued an injured hiker on 1 April who had fallen into a crevasse next to Chimney Rock, a remote area in Catoctin Mountain National Park, Maryland, US. The hiker had sustained traumatic injuries after falling into the crevasse.
The service’s Trooper 3 helicopter based in Frederick was dispatched and arrived shortly after 16:00 hrs. The pilots manoeuvred the AW139 into position 100 ft (30 m) above a small rock outcropping at an elevation of 1,700 ft (520 m) above sea level, and a crew member was lowered to the scene to co-ordinate and direct ground units.
The patient was packaged and stabilised with the assistance of emergency personnel who had hiked over two miles in the rugged terrain to gain access. Due to the severity of injuries and remote location, an aerial extraction was required, said the Police. The helicopter crew member accompanied the injured hiker during the hoist evolution. The patient was subsequently transported to the University of Maryland Shock Trauma Center in Baltimore while receiving advanced medical care from the Trooper 3 crew.
The flight team was assisted by the National Park Service, Frederick County Fire Department and the Frederick County Advanced Technical Rescue Team.