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Fernie SAR rescues snowmobiler

A local woman is recovering after rolling her snowmobile in backcountry east of Fernie.
11430995_web1_Snowmobile-rescue

A local woman is recovering after rolling her snowmobile in backcountry east of Fernie on Wednesday afternoon.

About 12.40 p.m. Fernie Search and Rescue responded to a 911 call for the injured woman, who was sledding with a companion north of Barnes Peak when her machine overturned.

A helicopter with an avalanche technician and first aider on board was able to land at the scene, where the woman was stabilized and flown to Fernie.

She was taken to the B.C. Ambulance Service with a suspected broken scapula, the bone that connects the upper arm to the collar bone.

Fernie SAR head Simon Piney said the pair was experienced and well prepared, using a satellite phone to call for help.

“Once they got into trouble, they were able to make contact, were able to give a location, able to tell us whether we were able to land nearby, and provide some first aid – all the things you need to be able to do from our point of view,” he said.