This story has been amended since first posting to correct the trail's difficulty rating.
A mountain biker is in critical condition following a long-line rescue on Mount Seymour Monday evening.
The cyclist, estimated to be in his 40s or 50s, was riding solo on the black diamond trail C-Buster when he crashed and suffered a severe spinal injury, according to District of North Vancouver assistant fire chief David Dales.
Unable to move or call for help, the North Shore resident was stuck on the trail until another group of mountain bikers saw him and called 911.
After getting the call at 6:30 p.m., District of North Vancouver firefighters hopped into a pickup truck and drove up a service road to within about 200 metres of the fallen mountain biker. Unable to drive any farther, firefighters ran onto the bike trail where they were guided to the injured man by waiting mountain bikers.
“We were probably at the patient’s side in about 15 minutes from getting the call,” Dales said.
Once the mountain biker was packaged, firefighters carried the man 150 metres up the trail where North Shore Rescue’s medical team was waiting.
Using a long line, NSR flew the patient to Inter River Park where he was taken by ambulance to Lions Gate Hospital.
Having a seamless working relationship with NSR is critical, according to Dales.
“It would’ve literally taken hours to get him out of the trail,” he said. “You’ve got to remember: the trail is a double black diamond mountain bike trail – it’s not designed for hiking with a basket stretcher.”
The incident is a reminder to be cognizant of your surroundings in the backcountry, Dales said.
“If we know where you are, we can get to you a lot quicker.”
Dales also thanked the mountain bikers who helped the injured cyclist’s dog, a “little cocker spaniel,” off the trail. Fire crews brought the dog to the man’s family, Dales reported.
