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Photo by Bill Green
Trooper Donald Lehman is shown wearing new night-vision
goggles that were instrumental in finding a stranded kayaker Tuesday night in the Potomac River. The crew of Trooper 3 located the man holding on to a tree in the fast current and used a hoist to get him to safety. |
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SANDY HOOK -- A man clinging to a tree branch was rescued Tuesday evening from the Potomac River just south of U.S. 340 bridge, according to Maryland State Police.The crew of the MSP helicopter known as Trooper 3, which is based at Frederick Municipal Airport, lowered a basket and hoisted him into the aircraft, police said. "It was a pretty impressive rescue," First Sgt. Joe George said. The man was an experienced kayaker, but the river was 3 feet below flood stage and only 48 degrees, police said. A nearby resident heard the man calling for help and blowing a whistle around 7:30 p.m. While several fire and rescue company boats from Washington and Frederick counties were dispatched, they did not go into the high water because of the dangerous conditions. "They used a lot of caution," George said. "I give a lot of kudos to them." The Trooper 3 crew -- pilot Craig Renier and flight paramedic Lance Shank -- used night-vision goggles and a spotlight to search the areas around the river. "The night-vision goggles were instrumental in finding him," George said. "It made a huge difference." The goggles, put on the aircraft about six months ago, replaced a set that were more than 20 years old. Once the kayaker was found, the crew had to overcome obstacles to get to the man, George said. The valley is steep and gets dark. The rushing water can make distances deceptive. "It's a very hazardous area at night," he said. To be able to see the area better, another Maryland State Police helicopter based at Andrews Air Force Base, Trooper 2, was called to assist with a spotlight. "That is a big benefit," George said, "that we had the aircraft to do it." As Shank lowered the basket 50 feet to the man, he had to make sure the cable did not knock the man off the tree and the basket did not hit the water, George said. If it had, it would have been pulled down river. "It takes a lot of courage and skill to do that," he said. The man was able to climb into the basket and be hoisted to the helicopter, police said. The helicopter landed in Knoxville, where the man was evaluated by first responders. He refused transport to a hospital.
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