Injured hiker rescued near Potomac

An injured hiker was rescued from the Virginia side of the Potomac River on Saturday night by a boat from the D.C. fire department, authorities said.

The man was hiking with his dog on a trail near the river’s edge when he slipped on rocks in the Spout Run area around 8:30 p.m. according to witnesses’ accounts.

The man’s shouts attracted the attention of a kayaker, and a D.C. fire boat and police were sent to the scene, about three-quarters of a mile upstream from Key Bridge.

The man was taken aboard the boat and brought to the Thompson Boat Center near the foot of Virginia Avenue NW. From there he was transferred to an ambulance, according to Pete Piringer, the D.C. fire and emergency services department spokesman.

--Martin Weil