STATE POLICE HELICOPTER RESCUES THREE FROM LAKE LINGANORE

Maryland State Police Helicopter, Trooper 3, performed a hoist rescue over Lake Linganore on the evening of June 27, 2015. A group of nine individuals were aboard a pontoon boat on the lake when the boat approached a spillway on the west side of the lake. Heavy rains had created a significant current due to the water rushing over the spillway.

The boat became trapped in the current and subsequently went over the dam onto the rocky spillway below. Four individuals on the dam ledge were able to be rescued by members of Frederick County Fire and Rescue via boat and one individual was rescued from the water by the Frederick County Swift Water Rescue Team. Three juveniles remained trapped on the rocks at the bottom of the spillway and were inaccessible by land or boat. One additional victim was unfortunately deceased.

Helicopter “Trooper 3”, based out of Frederick Municipal Airport, arrived on the scene at 7:13 p.m. ready for hoist operations. The victims were located at the bottom of the spillway, trapped on rocks and a large log. Once on scene, the decision was made to conduct a hoist rescue due to the inaccessibility and concerns of hypothermia. A rescue basket was lowered down to the water beside victims. A 15 year-old female, climbed into the basket and was hoisted to safety inside the aircraft. Two subsequent hoist iterations successfully lifted two 17 year-old females to safety. Once secured in the aircraft, the victims were flown a short distance to Trooper 3’s hangar located at the Frederick Municipal Airport where a waiting advanced life support ambulance evaluated the victims and transported them to Frederick Memorial Hospital.

Trooper 3, was able to successfully rescue all of the victims in just over 11 minutes from time of arrival. The rescue was an overwhelming success and demonstrated versatility of the crews and the AW-139 helicopter.

Trooper 3 was assisted at the scene by units from Frederick County Fire and Rescue and the Frederick County Sheriff’s Office. The Maryland Department of Natural Resources Police are investigating the incident.