Stranded boater rescued from Somerset County marsh

A Maryland State Police helicopter pulled a man to safety Friday after he ran his boat aground in a remote marsh and suffered a medical emergency.

What’s Happening: Shortly after 1:30 p.m. on April 17, Somerset County rescue crews were called to Dames Quarter Lake, where a boater had grounded his vessel and was experiencing a medical emergency. The location was too shallow and too remote for a boat or ground crew to reach him.

What’s Important: A Maryland Natural Resources Police officer found the man and confirmed that a hoist rescue was the only option. A trooper-paramedic was lowered by cable to a patch of solid ground in the marsh, assessed the patient, and prepared him for aerial extraction using a rescue device. The helicopter hovered at nearly 70 feet while the man was hoisted aboard.

How This Affects Real People: Once the patient was on the aircraft, the crew flew him directly to a local hospital.

Catch Up Quick: The U.S. Coast Guard requested the aerial rescue. Maryland State Police Aviation Command, which has operated since 1970, runs a fleet of 10 helicopters from seven bases across the state and provides around-the-clock coverage for medical, search and rescue, and law enforcement missions.