Md. Personnel Lauded for Saving Man Hurt on Zip Line

ANNAPOLIS, MD – Maryland touts teamwork as the key for its world-renowned trauma care successes.

And, last summer when Zachary Jensen was knocked unconscious after a collision on a zip line in rural Frederick County, one of those teams joined efforts to save him.

The group -- comprised of career and volunteer fire and rescue personnel and the crew of a Maryland State Police helicopter – were lauded for the rescue during the annual EMS Week ceremony in Annapolis.

The first responders, who found the unconscious man in a remote and deeply wooded area, immediately started basic care and called for additional resources including the advanced technical rescue team and the state for helicopter.

While medics initiated care, including intubating him, the ATR crew prepared for hoisting him into the helicopter as it was determined he needed to be flown.

Medics administered drugs to stop the man’s seizures as he was being immobilized and readied for the hoist.

Pete Gorelick, a specially trained member of the ATR team, attached himself to the line as well and continued to ventilate the patient as they were hoisted into the helicopter.

“It’s something we’d talked about, but never practiced. I didn’t think twice about it,” Gorelick said of his actions.

State officials say they believe it was the first time a rescuer bagged the patient while being lifted.

Gorelick added that his teammates did a great job manning the taglines which kept him and the patient from spinning as they were lifted. “We went straight up,” he said, explaining the heavily wooded area.

Jamie Daily said the team’s training with the helicopter crew has paid off. “You have to keep the right amount of tension in the line…”

Medics who treated Jensen said they honored to be recognized for their effort. All received the MIEMSS Director’s Award for Excellence in EMS.

“This was an example of how Maryland’s EMS system works. Many people had their hands in this – to save him,” said Master Trooper Eric Smothers, the flight medic.

While hospitalized, Jensen, who suffered a diffuse axonal brain injury, proposed about seven times to his girlfriend. And, she said ‘yes’ every time, according to a report in a local newspaper.

After spending some time in a rehab center in Georgia, he returned home in December, defying the odds.