Maryland State Police aviators had anything but a lazy Fourth of July weekend, pulling off three air rescues that yanked stranded adventurers out of rivers, creeks and rugged mountain terrain from Baltimore County to the Eastern Shore and western Maryland.
Across three separate missions, crews hoisted two tubers from the Gunpowder Falls area, three jet skiers from a Talbot County creek and an injured hiker from a remote spot near Muddy Creek Falls. Officials said the water rescues involved uninjured victims, while the hiker was flown out after being lifted from difficult terrain.
Hoist Over the Gunpowder
On July 3, the crew of Trooper One hovered above the Big Gunpowder Falls near Cockeysville, threading a rescue basket through thick tree cover to reach two people who got stranded while tubing. The helicopter crew hoisted both victims to safety, then brought up a firefighter who had reached them on foot, according to WBAL NewsRadio.
Stranded Jet Skiers In Talbot County
Trooper 6, the Easton-based Aviation Command helicopter, then logged a double hoist operation on Skipton Creek, where three 18-year-old women found their jet skis stuck in a mix of deep mud and shallow water. Using cellphone contact to talk the riders through what to expect, the crew pulled all three to safety without injury, according to WMDT.
Hiker Hoisted From Muddy Creek Falls
On Sunday, Trooper Five, based in Cumberland, responded to rugged terrain near Muddy Creek Falls in Garrett County, where an injured hiker needed help in an area that ground crews could not reach quickly. The helicopter crew hoisted the hiker out and transported the person for further medical care, according to WBAL NewsRadio.
How The Aviation Command Got Them Out
The Maryland State Police Aviation Command flies a fleet of AgustaWestland/Leonardo AW-139 helicopters from several bases around the state and regularly relies on trooper/paramedics and rescue technicians to handle hoist operations. Successful missions depend on tight coordination with local fire, EMS and other partner agencies, according to Maryland State Police.
The trio of holiday rescues is a pointed reminder of how fast a summer outing can turn into a call for help. Emergency crews urged people to be extra cautious around mudflats, steep trails and fast-moving water on crowded holiday weekends and thanked callers whose quick alerts helped get rescue teams in the air.
