State Police Helicopter Helps Rescue Teen After Cliff Fall

BALTIMORE (WJZ)--A day on the mountain turns into a near tragedy in Western Maryland when a teen fell more than 40 feet when he was hiking with his friends.

Tracey Leong has more.

A helicopter crew rushes in to save a 16-year-old boy after he plummets 40-feet down a rocky cliff suffering traumatic injuries.

"His injuries were significant enough where he needed to be in an emergency room in 15-20 minutes," said Captain Rick Bartlett, with the Maryland State Police.

Bartlett led the rescue and tells WJZ airlifting the teen was the best option.

The teen fell down a steep cliff on Haystack Mountain located near Cumberland in Western Maryland, a region that is not easily accessible for rescue crews.

"A lot of trees in the area concern with entanglement," said Bartlett. "Plus wind gives a little bit of turbulence."

The call came in around 6:00 p.m. in the evening. Crews were working against the clock hoping to get him out before dark while juggling the weather and terrain.

Crews manage to make a successful rescue and transport the teen to a nearby hospital.

And since the Haystack Mountains are a popular spot for sight-seeing and rock climbing authorities have a message for hikers.

Captain Bartlett says, "We all want to go out and play in the woods, and play in the river and have a good time, but there are some areas you have to exercise a bit of caution."

The victim is in stable condition, his injuries were non-life threatening.

State Police make about half a dozen helicopter rescues a year in that part of western Maryland.