SWALLOW FALLS STATE PARK, MD — An injured hiker was airlifted to safety this Saturday afternoon by the Maryland State Police Aviation Command (MSPAC) after suffering a fall at Swallow Falls State Park.
The rescue operation involved Trooper 5, a helicopter crew based in Cumberland, who performed a hoist mission. The decision for an aerial rescue by the AgustaWestland AW-139 helicopter was made due to the severe injuries of the hiker, the difficult terrain, and the expected prolonged time for ground extraction. Pilots maneuvered the helicopter above a riverbank, lowering a Trooper/Paramedic to the injured hiker’s location.
After stabilizing the hiker, they were flown to UPMC Western Maryland in Cumberland for treatment. The MSPAC, operational since 1970, utilizes a fleet of 10 AW139 helicopters from seven bases across Maryland to provide vital services including medevac, law enforcement, and search and rescue operations, often collaborating with local and federal agencies.