Search and Rescue teams coordinate airlift of injured mountain biker to hospital
By The Nelson Daily Staff
RCMP said that a 71-year-old mountain biker was was transported to hospital with serious injuries following a fall while riding trails Sunday in the Merry Creek recreational area.
RCMP said that on on August 25, 2024, at approximately 1 p.m., the Castlegar RCMP were advised that a mountain biker suffered serious injuries while riding trails outside Castlegar.
RCMP said that the caller advised police they were riding the mountain bike trails when they came upon a female rider requesting assistance in contacting emergency services for a male riding partner who had fallen off a log bridge and was unconscious with visible injuries and laboured breathing.
“Given the remote location and terrain of the area, Castlegar, Nelson, and Rossland Search and Rescue teams were all dispatched who sent a team to rescue the injured cyclist,” RCMP said in the media release.
“In addition to Search and Rescue sending a team via ground transport, the Nelson Search and Rescue team were requested to assist with use of a helicopter.”
RCMP said the rescue team arrived at the location and provided First Aid to the injured male, preparing him for transport before the injured male was air lifted in a medical basket to an awaiting ambulance.
RCMP said the injured male was transported to hospital with serious injuries and full extent of his injuries is currently unknown while he receives continued treatment in hospital.
Nelson, Rossland and Castlegar Search and Rescue personnel are teams of volunteers who train regularly for a variety of unfortunate incidents which occur in remote and urban settings.
RCMP said their assistance in this matter aided in the successful transport of the injured rider to the awaiting ambulance for urgently required medical treatment.
