SHENANDOAH VA (Rocktown Now) — On Wednesday, July 16, the crew of Med-Flight 1 executed a successful hoist rescue of an injured hiker on Old Rag Mountain in Shenandoah National Park in Madison County.

 

Med-flight 1 was initially notified by the National Park Service of the need for service at approximately 1:30 p.m. on Wednesday.
Old Rag Mountain is approximately 80 nautical miles from Med-Flight 1’s home base in Chesterfield.
The hiker suffered a shoulder injury and could not make the hike back down the mountain.
The flight, staffed by Virginia State Police First Sergeant Jeffrey Weber, Chesterfield Flight Paramedic Chris Orr, and Chesterfield Firefighter Michael Burnett, rescued the hiker off of the mountain and flew the hiker to waiting EMS crews at the base of the mountain.
“The hiker was in a pretty treacherous area from what we’ve been told, and they weren’t able to make it down by foot or ground, so they had to be hoisted,” said Chesterfield Flight Paramedic Chris Orr.
Med-Flight 1 also rescued a hiker off of Old Rag Mountain on March 31st.
This is the fourth hoist rescue this year.
Thursday, July 17, Med-Flight 1 crews were also recognized by the Virginia Department of Fire Programs for a hoist rescue last August along Saint Mary’s Falls Trail in Augusta County.
Med Flight-1 is a joint effort between Virginia State Police pilots and paramedics from the Chesterfield County Fire and EMS.