A Maryland State Police helicopter crew successfully rescued a boater who experienced a medical emergency in a remote Somerset County location on Friday afternoon.
Emergency responders from Somerset County were called to Dames Quarter Lake around 1:30 p.m. on April 17 after a man ran his boat aground and began suffering a medical crisis. The United States Coast Guard requested assistance from the Maryland State Police Aviation Command because of the victim’s isolated location, lengthy ground evacuation time, and the severity of his medical condition. The SYSCOM Duty Officer sent Trooper 4, the state police helicopter stationed in Salisbury, to handle the mission.
Rescue teams began searching for the boater in waters east of Deal Island, Maryland. A Maryland Natural Resources Police officer found the man and determined that an aerial rescue was necessary because of shallow water conditions that prevented boat or ground-based evacuations. A Trooper/Paramedic was lowered onto solid ground in the marsh where boats couldn’t reach, evaluated the victim’s medical condition, and prepared him for aerial evacuation using an ARV-QC rescue device.
The Trooper 4 crew maintained a hover position approximately 70 feet above the marsh and successfully lifted the victim to safety. After securing the patient aboard the aircraft, the flight team immediately began providing medical care during transport to a nearby hospital. The rescue operation was completed using an AgustaWestland AW-139 helicopter.
The Maryland State Police Aviation Command has been operating since 1970 and maintains 10 AW139 helicopters across seven Maryland bases. These aircraft provide 24-hour coverage for Maryland residents and visitors through medical evacuation, law enforcement, search and rescue, homeland security, and disaster assessment missions. Mission success depends on collaboration between local fire, rescue, EMS, law enforcement agencies, and partner organizations.
