Injured Maryland Heights hiker hoisted 100 feet into the air by state police chopper

A Maryland State Police helicopter was used to hoist a 35-year-old hiker about 100 feet into the air Tuesday after the woman slipped and fell in a remote section of Maryland Heights, authorities said.

Rescue crews were called to the popular overlook on the Potomac River across from Harpers Ferry, W.Va., shortly before 3:45 p.m. When they reached the injured hiker, crews realized that rescuing her was going to be difficult because of the location, according to a Maryland State Police news release.

The woman suffered a lower leg injury and was having trouble moving in the sub-freezing temperatures, according to the release and Potomac Valley Fire Chief Roger Otzelberger Jr.

Realizing an "aerial extraction" would be needed, a Maryland State Police Aviation Command helicopter stationed at Joint Base Andrews in Prince George's County was called to help rescue the woman.

Once overhead at the site where the hiker fell, the helicopter was used to lower a trooper, who is also trained as a medic, down to other rescuers below. After the trooper assessed the woman's injuries, he placed her in a special harness which allowed crews to lift her about 100 feet to the helicopter, the release said.

She was flown to Meritus Medical Center near Hagerstown for treatment. Otzelberger said he wasn't sure where she is from. State police did not give the woman's name, and her condition was not known Wednesday evening.

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The Maryland State Police Aviation Command staffs each of its helicopters with two pilots and two troopers trained as medical technicians, according to the release. The unit has existed since 1970 and operates from seven bases in Maryland.

This article originally appeared on The Herald-Mail: Maryland State Police helicopter called to remote overlook for rescue