Hiker Rescued From Sugarloaf Mountain; Rescuers Share Story
FREDERICK COUNTY, Md. (WJZ/AP) -- A hiker got trapped on a remote mountainside in Frederick County, setting into motion a dicey operation to save his life. More than four dozen rescuers worked to free the young hiker.
Christie Ileto has the first-hand account of the challenging rescue.
Maryland State Police say troopers used an agency helicopter and aerial hoist to rescue a hiker who had fallen from the side of a cliff on Sugarloaf Mountain.
Authorities say the 21-year-old hiker fell shortly after 7 p.m. Tuesday. Because of the steep, remote terrain and the hiker's injuries, troopers decided to perform an aerial hoist rescue.
Authorities say responders from Frederick County Fire Rescue secured the hiker and moved him to the summit of the cliff.
"All the rescue equipment is attacked to the hoist," said Cpl. Jason Bigham, who was tasked with hoisting the hiker into the chopper hovering 150 feet in the air. "That equipment was lowered to the ground personnel. They secure the equipment and we raise them back up that cable."
Trooper 3, a MSP helicopter, hovered over an opening in trees and removed the hiker.
"This was my first live hoist," said pilot Simon Wilkes, who flew the rescue team to the badly injured hiker. "A lot of training but first live hoist."
The hiker was flown to Shock Trauma in Baltimore. His condition is not known.
(Copyright 2013 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
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