A 56-year-old man was transported by STARS air ambulance to the Calgary Foothills Hospital with back and other non-life threatening injuries following a quad rollover 80 kilometres west of Sundre on Thursday afternoon.
The man was one of a number of all-terrain vehicle riders who were moving along a heavily wooded trail near Pine Needle Creek when he rolled his machine, which landed on top of him.
Because the crash site was inaccessible to vehicles, the man was initially pulled out of the area by an Alpine Helicopter machine on a longline sling and taken to a nearby road where he was transferred to a waiting STARS helicopter.
His condition was stable when he arrived at Foothills, said STARS spokesperson Cam Heke.
Police are not naming the man or saying where he resides, said Sundre RCMP acting detachment commander Cpl. Ryan Hodge.
Sundre Search and Rescue, Sundre EMS, and Sundre firefighters all took part in the rescue effort.
The group the man was with was equipped for emergency situations, including a satellite telephone and GPS unit.
“Sundre RCMP and its partners want to remind the public of the potential hazards when travelling or pursuing recreational activities in the backcounty,” said Hodge.
“Everyone should travel in groups and not exceed their level of experience for the activities they are engaged in. Equipment such as GPS, satellite communications, first aid kits and survival gear is essential for a safe and enjoyable trip.”
A collision investigation is ongoing, said Hodge.
