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Cyclist rescued by Fernie SAR over weekend

Fernie Search and Rescue received a call in the early afternoon of Sept. 24 for a cyclist near Mount Fernie Provincial Park.

Fernie Search and Rescue (SAR) received a call in the early afternoon of Sept. 24 with a report that a mountain biker was injured on Eric’s Trip trail, which is  located near Mount Fernie Provincial Park.

“Fernie SAR was activated by BCAS via Emergency Management BC to respond to a report of an injured biker on a mountain bike trail called Eric's Trip. This was around 2 p.m.,” said Fernie SAR manager, Simon Piney.

According to Piney, the injured cyclist was a 46-year-old woman who had reported pelvic injuries following a fall.

“Fernie SAR placed a call to its members to respond, and 10 were dispatched to hike up the trail with medical equipment and extrication gear,” he said. “A SAR member who was biking nearby went directly to the patient to help stabilize the injured person.”

Once on scene, Fernie SAR assessed the injuries and stabilized the cyclist.

“She was given some pain relief, strapped to a clamshell backboard and placed in a special wheeled litter that was then lowered down the trail using ropes to belay the subject,” said Piney.

“She was then handed over to BCAS at the trailhead and taken to Cranbrook with a suspected broken hip.”

According to Piney, over the past 12 months Fernie SAR has had 22 call outs, which is an average amount and similar to last year.