WILEY FORD — A 19-year old man was rescued by Maryland State Police aviators after he fell 200 from the face of a cliff on Tuesday.
Aviation Medevac Trooper 5 responded at about 7 p.m. to assist in locating the victim, according to a Maryland State Police press release. The man fell near the Lakewood development and the Potomac River.
The Trooper 5 crew consisted of Pilots Tim McMahon and James Moon, Flight Medic Trooper First Class Richard DeVore and Rescue Technician Master Trooper Eric Derham.
The Wiley Ford and Short Gap Volunteer Fire Departments were dispatched to the location and arrived shortly before Trooper 5. Once overhead, Trooper 5 located the victim on a rock at the base of the cliff. Troopers directed fire and rescue personnel to the victim. The rescuers were on foot because the rugged terrain in the location.
Trooper 5 executed an aerial hoist rescue of the patient due to the victims’s traumatic injuries and extended extrication time required because of the terrain. Derham was lowered from the helicopter to the scene to coordinate ground operations while DeVore operated the rescue hoist on the helicopter.
With the assistance of the ground rescuers from Maryland and West Virginia the victim was treated, stabilized and hoisted to the aircraft. Derham accompanied the victim during the lift to continue his treatment. Trooper 5 flew the patient to the Western Maryland Regional Medical Center for treatment of his injuries.