STATE POLICE HELICOPTER RESCUES TWO STRANDED VICTIMS FROM SKIPTON CREEK

(Talbot County, MD) Maryland State Police helicopter, Trooper 6, executed an aerial hoist rescue on Skipton Creek and transported two stranded victims to safety.

Last night at approximately 10:34 p.m. SYSCOM, the statewide helicopter dispatch center, received a request from the Talbot County Emergency Operations Center. Talbot County had requested the helicopter to assist in locating and rescuing two stranded jet ski operators on Skipton Creek in the area of U.S. Route 50 between Wye Mills and Easton.

MSP Trooper 6, based at the Easton Airport, Talbot County, MD was dispatched to complete a hoist rescue mission for two victims who grounded their personal water crafts in the mud in the middle of the creek. The victims were stranded at night and exposed to the elements for 3 hours with no ability to return to shore.

The flight crew onboard Trooper 6 arrived at Skipton Creek, evaluated the scene, and quickly located an 18 year old female and a 22 year old male victim stranded in the middle of the creek with their water crafts. The victims were not visible and unable to be located by fire/rescue personnel from the Cordova Fire Company who were nearby at the Skipton Landing.

Trooper 6 lowered a rescue basket to the victims, hoisted and transported both victims to shore where Talbot County paramedics and emergency service providers from the Cordova Fire Company assessed both victims for injuries. Maryland Natural Resource Police are investigating.

The Maryland State Police Aviation Command has served Maryland citizens since 1970, and operates a fleet of eleven (11) helicopters from seven (7) bases throughout the State on a 24/7/365 basis. Missions include medevac, law enforcement, search & rescue, homeland security, and disaster assessment. The success of rescues performed by the Aviation Command depends a great deal on the cooperative effort of local fire, rescue, EMS, and law enforcement agencies.