Maryland State Police Aviation Rescue Hiker in Wicomico County

(SALISBURY, MD) – The Maryland State Police Aviation Command rescued a hiker after she suffered injuries from a fall Sunday afternoon in Wicomico County.  

The woman was hiking with her husband in a remote area along Beaverdam Creek in Salisbury. The Salisbury Fire Department located the woman and requested Maryland State Police for an aerial rescue due to the nature of her injuries, limited access to the area and extended extrication time.

Rescuers initiated patient care on the injured hiker and stabilized her for extrication. The crew from Trooper 4, based in Salisbury, conducted a hoist mission. Pilots hovered the Leonardo AW-139 helicopter nearly 80 feet above dense tree cover, while a Trooper/Paramedic was lowered below. The woman was secured in an air rescue vest-quick connect and hoisted into the aircraft. She was flown to TidalHealth Peninsula Regional Hospital in Salisbury for treatment of her injuries.

The MSPAC has served Maryland citizens since 1970 and operates a fleet of 10 AW139 helicopters from seven bases throughout the State. Each aircraft provides round-the-clock coverage to Maryland residents and visitors. The agency’s missions include medevac, law enforcement, search and rescue, homeland security, and disaster assessment. The success of the missions relies heavily on the cooperative efforts of local fire, rescue, EMS, law enforcement agencies, and our partners at the U.S. Coast Guard and the U.S. Park Police.

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CONTACT: F/Sgt. Jonathan Larsen, Assistant Commander, MSPAC Eastern Region, jonathan.larsen@maryland.gov, (301) 663-5742