County Swiftwater Units Honored For Harford County Rescue

Press release from the Baltimore County Fire Department:

May 18, 2021

Swiftwater teams from Texas Station #17 and the Kingsville Volunteer Fire Co. have been honored by the Maryland Institute for Emergency Medical Services Systems (MIEMSS) for their work on a complex rescue in Harford County last year.

The swiftwater units received MIEMSS' "Stars of Life" award, presented Monday at the Jarrettsville VFC.

Dr. David A. Vitberg, BCoFD's Deputy Medical Director, also was named on the award, along with personnel from other agencies involved on this incident: Harford County volunteer companies, Harford County Sheriff's Office, Harford County EOC dispatchers, Maryland State Police, Maryland Department of Natural Resources Police and the University of Maryland R Adams Cowley Shock Trauma "Go Team."

The incident occurred at about 5 p.m. on August 23, 2020, when multiple state and local agencies responded to a call involving a 30-year-old man who jumped into the waters of Deer Creek in Rocks State Park and was swept underwater. The man's ankle became entangled by rocks in a treacherous area of rapids.

For three hours, rescuers from all the agencies recognized as Stars of Life worked together to free the man. They ultimately succeeded, and he was transported a local hospital.

This press release was produced by the Baltimore County Fire Department. The views expressed here are the author’s own.