BELINGTON, W.Va. — A man is hospitalized after a mishap while swimming in the Middle Fork River in Barbour County over the weekend.
Belington Volunteer Fire Department reports they were dispatched to Audra State Park for a water rescue on Saturday afternoon. The man had dived off a rock and struck his head on rocks at the bottom of the river. Rescue teams hiked down Lower Cave Trail and established a rope haul system to get him out of the area.
Crews were able to prepare them man for an airlift. He was lifted via a hoist to Trooper 5 of the Maryland State Police Aviation Unit’s chopper and flown to Ruby Memorial Hospital in Morgantown.
The Philippi and Junior Volunteer Fire Departments, the Barbour County Ambulance Authority and Unit 34 with Boat 3 responded to the incident, along with Coalton, Elkins and Beverly Volunteer Fire Departments for further assistance.
The man’s name was not released and his condition today is unknown.