Police helo airlifts woman from woods

A Maryland State Police helicopter crew assisted first responders from Baltimore County Fire and Rescue with the rescue of a teenager suffering from a medical emergency in the Patapsco Valley State Park, US, on 14 July. The victim, a 16-year-old female, fell ill while participating in outdoor enrichment activities as part of a youth programme.

Maryland State Police helicopter Trooper 2 based in Camp Springs responded after rescue personnel on the ground encountered challenging conditions during their attempts to extract the patient from the woods. Pilots manoeuvred the AW139 helicopter into position, while holding a steady hover 140 ft (40 m) above a small clearing in the woods. A rescue basket was lowered to the patient and rescuers. Emergency medical services (EMS) and fire department personnel assisted the patient into the basket.

A successful extraction using the helicopter hoist was conducted and the patient was transported to University of Maryland Medical Center for evaluation. The mission illustrates a seamless collaboration between local fire, EMS, law enforcement, technical rescue teams, and the Maryland State Police Aviation Command, said the police force.