Home Augusta County: Hiker rescued after sustaining serious back injuries at St. Mary’s River
Virginia

Augusta County: Hiker rescued after sustaining serious back injuries at St. Mary’s River

Crystal Graham
helicopter rescue
Photo courtesy Chesterfield Fire and EMS

A 20-year-old woman was rescued in Augusta County after she sustained serious back injuries after jumping into the St. Mary’s River from a cliff.

Members of the Virginia State Police Med Flight 1 team responded to the call on Saturday at 5:23 p.m.

The woman, who has not been identified, was hiking on St. Mary’s Falls Trail in the area of Raphine/Vesuvius.

The Med-Flight 1 crew included a Virginia State Police pilot and four Chesterfield County Fire and EMS flight paramedics.

Once on scene, the ground crew directed the helicopter into position over the scene and  a rescuer was lowered approximately 135 feet from the aircraft to the ground.

Augusta County Fire-Rescue personnel on scene assisted in securing the injured hiker for a hoisting operation back to the aircraft.

The injured hiker was placed inside the helicopter, and the crew then transitioned from a rescue operation to a medevac transport to UVA Medical Center.

On Saturday, Med Flight 1 also responded to a farm machinery entrapment in Amelia County and an ATV incident involving a child in south Chesterfield.

Med Flight 1 is a joint effort between Virginia State Police pilots and paramedics from the Chesterfield County Fire and EMS Department.

Video from Saint Mary’s rescue

Video courtesy Augusta County Fire and EMS.

Support AFP




Crystal Graham

Crystal Graham

A 1999 graduate of Virginia Tech, Crystal Graham has worked for 25 years as a reporter and editor for several Virginia publications, written a book, and garnered more than a dozen Virginia Press Association awards for writing and graphic design. She was the co-host of "Viewpoints," a weekly TV news show, and co-host of "Virginia Tonight," a nightly TV news show, both broadcast on PBS. Her work on "Virginia Tonight" earned her a national Telly award for excellence in television. You can reach her at [email protected]

Latest News

uva baseball chris pollard
Baseball

UVA Baseball: How are we supposed to feel about Pollard throwing his guys under the bus?

tv
Etc.

AEW ‘Dynamite’ ratings back up post-Darby Allin nightmare title run

The weeks of decline in viewership for AEW “Dynamite” that coincided with the illogical move to put the world title on a skateboard goofball saw a reversal after the title switch at “Double or Nothing.”

matt augustin uva baseball
Baseball

UVA Baseball: RHP Matt Augustin among three ‘Hoos entering transfer portal

No surprise here, that Matt Augustin, a 6’3” righthander who was only used seven times in 2026 by the new UVA Baseball coaching staff, is in the transfer portal – one of three ‘Hoos to enter the portal on Monday.

lgbtq
Politics, Virginia

Marriage equality is the law of the land, sure, but, take nothing for granted

stephen colbert
Politics

Video: #TeamAFP plays the ‘Late Show with Stephen Colbert’ 15 questions game

government money
Politics, U.S. & World

Developing: Trump backing away from slush fund that Ben Cline had no problem with

earth planet ecology environment recycle world
Politics, U.S. & World

Earl Zimmerman: What’s making news in climate, energy, environment