A Calgary man is in hospital with a serious spinal injury after hitting a tree while mountain biking in Fernie.
About 8 p.m. on Tuesday, July 10, Fernie Search and Rescue was called to the Swine Flu trail, where the young man had been riding with his brother and a local man.
According to a Facebook post by SAR, the man fell off his bike on the downhill and struck a tree with his back, sustaining a serious spinal injury.
SAR worked with BC Ambulance Service and Fernie Fire and Rescue to stabilize and extricate the man, who was then taken to the Elk Valley Hospital.
In view of the serious nature of the injury, STARS Air Ambulance was activated but had to delay due to poor weather conditions.
The injured biker was eventually flown to Foothills Medical Centre in Calgary later that night.