Crime & Safety
Helicopter Saves Overturned Kayaker Stuck In Cold Water: Report
A kayaker flipped over and got stuck in the chilly waters of Patuxent River State Park. A helicopter had to hoist the victim to safety.
PATUXENT RIVER STATE PARK, MD — A helicopter saved a kayaker stuck in a marsh last Saturday, an incident report said. The writeup added that the chopper lifted the victim from the chilly waters of Patuxent River State Park just before 7 p.m.
A passerby called the 911 center in Prince George's County when they found the stranded kayaker. The victim flipped over and swam to shore but got stuck in the mud.
The Prince George's County Fire/EMS Department came to the scene and requested backup from a Maryland State Police Aviation Command helicopter. The chopper spotted the kayaker and guided crews toward them.
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The land-based rescuers couldn't reach the victim, as the terrain was too marshy. The helicopter hovered 125 feet above the water and hoisted the kayaker to safety.
With the sun setting and temperatures dropping, medics worried about the wet victim's health. They took the kayaker to MedStar Southern Maryland Hospital for evaluation.
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