Maryland State Police rescued two victims on Aug. 21 on the Shenandoah River south of Harpers Ferry.
Shortly after 9:45 p.m., Maryland State Police Helicopter Trooper 3, based at Frederick Municipal Airport, was dispatched to perform an aerial hoist rescue of two victims who were stranded on the edge of a large flat rock along the river bend of the Shenandoah River. Due to the rocky terrain, low water level, difficulty of vessels getting to the victims and the extended extraction time, a Maryland State Police Aviation Command helicopter was requested by the SYSCOM Duty Officer through Jefferson County Fire Rescue to perform an aerial hoist rescue.
The Trooper 3 helicopter crew launched and once on scene, configured for an aerial hoist rescue while the pilots maneuvered the AW-139 helicopter into a steady 90-foot hover position above the river along the bend. The Trooper 3 helicopter crew lowered the rescue basket to the victims on the rock. Both victims climbed into the rescue basket and signaled they were ready for pickup and were then hoisted up to the aircraft.
Once the victims were secured inside the aircraft, the trooper/rescue technicians performed a medical assessment of the victim’s condition and determined both were wet and cold but needed no further medical care. The victims were transported to a pre-determined drop off location.
This press release was prepared and distributed by the Maryland State Police.
