STATE POLICE HELICOPTER HOIST RESCUES INJURED CLIMBER

Michaux State Forest, Cooke Township, Cumberland County, PA --

A Maryland State Police helicopter based in Frederick successfully performed a night hoist rescue from the side of a mountain, after an 18 year old female climber fell 15 feet and suffered traumatic injuries.

Shortly after 9:00 p.m. on July 26, 2010, an 18-year-old woman from Carlisle, PA was rock climbing with friends when she fell backward 15 feet off a rock, struck her head and lost consciousness. Due to the remote location of the victim, it took over an hour for Cumberland County EMS to reach the victim. The victim had head and chest injuries and as initial responders assessed the situation, it became apparent that a lengthy technical rescue would be required.

Officials from Cumberland County Fire Rescue requested assistance from the Maryland State Police Aviation Command for the hoist rescue. At 11:10 pm, SYSCOM, the communications center for the Maryland State Police Aviation Command, received the request for aerial rescue services.

Maryland State Police Helicopter Trooper 3, based in Frederick, was dispatched along with Frederick County Advanced Technical Rescue Team (ATR), which is standard operating procedure for aerial rescues. Maryland State Police helicopter Trooper 6, based in Easton, was also dispatched to support the mission. Trooper 6, flown by Pilot Jim Billings and Flight Paramedic Trooper First Class Adam LeCompte, landed at Frederick Municipal Airport and picked up additional ATR members Jamie Daily and Mike Smallwood, en-route to the Pennsylvania scene.

At 11:52 p.m., Trooper 3 was able to locate the victim in the remote forest area utilizing night vision goggles. The crew of Trooper 3, Pilot Craig Renier, and Flight Paramedic Trooper First Class Gregg Lantz, utilized the rescue hoist on the helicopter to deploy Frederick ATR team members Richard Lyons and Kurt Hornicek, who once at the scene prepared the victim to be hoisted. As Trooper 3 Pilot Renier held the aircraft steady, TFC Lantz operated the hoist.

By 12:15 a.m. today, the victim was extracted through a small hole in the canopy of trees and brought alongside the aircraft. Without landing, Trooper 3 moved the victim inside the helicopter, where TFC Lantz initiated patient care. The victim was ultimately transported to York Hospital, York, PA, for evaluation and is reported to be in stable condition.

This mission exemplifies continued successful coordination among the Maryland State Police Aviation Command, the all-volunteer, Frederick County Advanced Technical Rescue Team, and initial responding personnel. The successful completion of a combined rescue and medevac mission further illustrates the effectiveness and value of a multi-mission capable aircraft serving the citizens of Maryland on a daily basis; and, in this case, a citizen from a neighboring state.