Injured Maryland swimmer rescued by state police helicopter
A Maryland swimmer who suffered a head injury was brought to safety Friday by a state police helicopter.
The patient, who was not identified, was hurt after slipping on a rock at the Youghiogheny River’s Swallow Falls, about 189 miles west of Baltimore, according to a Maryland State Police release issued Saturday.
“Due to the steep terrain, extended extraction time, and the nature of the victim’s injuries,” the aerial hoist rescue was performed by a Maryland State Police Aviation Command helicopter, according to the release.
Helicopter Trooper 5 had been dispatched shortly after 5 p.m., according to the release.
The patient was treated by Garrett County Fire and Rescue during ground operations as well, the release noted.
The patient was transported to J.W. Ruby Memorial Hospital in Morgantown, W.Wv., about 50 miles west of Swallow Falls.
Authorities did not detail the patient’s current condition.
A similar rescue was made earlier Friday by Maryland State Police Helicopter Trooper 1, regarding an individual who was hurt after jumping 20 to 30 feet off a rock in a creek at Gilpin’s Falls, authorities said on the department’s Facebook page.
Maryland State Police also shared video of that rescue.
