A man suffering heat exhaustion in a western Wicomico County marsh was hoisted to safety in a dramatic helicopter mission by an MSP rescue crew.
MSP’s Easton Section Trooper 6 helicopter crossed nearly 300 yards of marshland near Muddy Hole and Trinity Church roads in Tyaskin to reach the 69-year-old male victim. MSP received the call for help at about 11:30 a.m. Friday.
The victim, whose identity was not released, was transported from the marsh to Peninsula Regional Medical Center in nearby Salisbury for treatment, according to the MSP.
The ordeal highlights “teamwork that occurs daily” by the state medical emergency care system, according to a statement from MSP. The MSP Aviation Command has served residents nearly a half century and currently has a fleet of 10 helicopters at seven bases throughout Maryland.
“The success of rescues performed by the Aviation Command depends a great deal on the cooperative effort of local fire, rescue, EMS and law enforcement agencies,” according to the MSP Aviation Command section in Easton.
The helicopter was manned by pilot Brian Martin; David Eldredge, second in command; crew chief and flight paramedic Cpl. Brian Francis; and rescue technician Trooper Tyler Brice.
Brice reached and secured the victim in an Agusta Westland AW-139 Goodrich hoist that then raised them both to the helicopter.
MSP used the hoist method in Friday’s rescue because of the victim’s medical condition and location in the marsh, the agency said.