CUMBERLAND — An unidentified man was rescued Thursday evening by Maryland State Police medevac helicopter Trooper 5 and the Cumberland Fire Department Helicopter Emergency Aerial (HEAT) team after he fell 20 feet from a rocky hillside next to the Potomac River opposite the Mason’s Sports Complex in South Cumberland.

The man, who is in his 20s and resides out of the area, was placed on a backboard and then lifted from the area of the old railroad trestle by the helicopter crew with use of a rescue litter. The patient was “packaged” and fitted with a neck collar by HEAT team members Steve Hout, Ed Kenner and Lt. Vince Pyle before he was hoisted to the helicopter. Medevac helicopter Trooper 3 provided lighting during the rescue operation.

Trooper 5 then landed in a nearby ballfield where the injured man was placed into a Cumberland Fire Department ambulance for transport to Memorial Hospital. No information was available concerning his medical condition.

The incident occurred at about 7:19 p.m. in the area of the boat launch. First reports to the 911 center indicated two people had possibly drowned in the Potomac River at the sports complex, located at the end of Offutt Street. As first-responders approached the area, two men had gotten out of the river and climbed the hillside at the base of the Greater Cumberland Regional Airport in Wiley Ford, W.Va. A female companion had waded across the river to call 911. The three had occupied a boat on the river before the emergency arose. One of the men on the cliff was able to climb down and reach his friend. No other details were available.

“We’re just happy to be out there and to be able to perform this rescue for the citizens,” said Maryland State Police Sgt. Donald Layman, Cumberland section supervisor.

Cumberland Fire Chief Bill Herbaugh said, “It was a successful rescue that was handled in a very professional manner that shows the level of our rescue capabilities. Our people have gained a lot of experience over the years working with the Maryland State Police medevac teams through HEAT team responses and training that obviously paid off in this situation.”

Eight Cumberland firefighters took part in the operation under the direction of Deputy Chief Donnie Dunn. Merrill Chaney of the department’s water rescue team provided assistance along with an off-duty city firefighter who brought his private boat from his nearby residence.

Firefighters returned to their stations at about 9 p.m. The rescue operation occurred at about the same time that a grease fire was reported at a residence in the 600 block of St. Mary’s Avenue. The occupants were safe outside the residence and removed the burning pan before fire units arrived. The residence was ventilated by firefighters. Damage was confined to the electrical system of the range and the range hood, Herbaugh said.

Contact Jeffrey Alderton at jlalderton@times-news.com.