Aerial hoist rescue was launched after emergency crews determined the injured rider could not be safely reached by ground.

CUMBERLAND, Md. — A mountain biker who suffered a seizure and fell on a remote trail in Rocky Gap State Park was rescued Sunday after the Maryland State Police Aviation Command performed an aerial hoist operation to lift the injured rider to safety.

Emergency crews were dispatched at about 11:09 a.m. Sunday to a remote section of the park in Allegany County after receiving a report that a mountain biker had experienced a seizure and crashed.

Because of the victim’s location, the lengthy ground extrication that would have been required, and the nature of the injuries, rescue personnel requested assistance from the Maryland State Police Aviation Command.

Trooper 5, the Maryland State Police helicopter based in Cumberland, responded to the scene.

While local emergency medical services and rescue personnel cared for the patient and prepared them for transport, a Maryland State Police Trooper/Rescue Technician was lowered from the hovering helicopter into a clearing.

The victim was secured in an aerial rescue vest and safely hoisted into the aircraft.

Once the patient was aboard, the crew transitioned from rescue operations to a medical evacuation and transported the victim to a local hospital for treatment.

The rescue was conducted using the Maryland State Police Aviation Command’s AgustaWestland AW-139 helicopter.

The Maryland State Police Aviation Command has operated since 1970 and maintains a fleet of 10 AW139 helicopters based at seven locations across the state. In addition to medical evacuations, the aircraft support search and rescue missions, law enforcement operations, homeland security efforts and disaster response.

Key Points

A mountain biker suffered a seizure and fell on a remote trail in Rocky Gap State Park.
Maryland State Police Aviation Command performed an aerial hoist rescue using Trooper 5.
The victim was flown to a local hospital after being safely lifted from the wooded area.

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Chris Quigley is a graduate of Stockton State University and began her career at IN Jersey, the online news and media branch of the Asbury Park Press. She also worked at Monmouth Internet, the Ocean Signal Newspaper, and JTOWN Magazine during her career in both content management and operations.

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