Fernie Search and Rescue was busy on Wednesday, responding to two separate rescue calls, both involving bikers on local trails.
The first incident involved a 67-year-old man from Lethbridge that was in medical distress, suffering cardiac pain on Lazy Lizard Trai.
“Guides and a medic from Island Lake Lodge responded on the trail and stabilized the man, while Fernie SAR CDFL (Class D Fixed-Line) Technicians responded to extricate him via heli-longline with Ascent Helicopters,” said Fernie Search and Rescue.
The Lethbridge man was dropped off with the B.C. Ambulance Service in the lower Island Lake parking lot before being transported to Fernie’s Elk Valley Hospital.
Fernie Search and Rescue then got called out again to respond to another injured biker.
“A local woman fell from her bike on the Project 9 descent, sustaining injuries to her face and neck,” said Fernie Search and Rescue.
As darkness was closing in, Fernie Search and Rescue got a medical response team close to the woman by using a helicopter, as that group then hiked in to stabilize the woman’s neck and face injuries.
“Three further teams responded by ATV, UTV and on foot to assist carrying her out to the Island Lake Road.”
The woman was then transferred over to the B.C. Ambulance Service, who took the biker to Elk Valley Hospital for further treatment and assessment.