Emergency responders rescue injured mountain biker on Zen Trail

Emergency responders place an injured mountain biker in an ATV specialized for medical transport, St. George, Utah, March 21, 2015 | Photo courtesy of Washington County Search and Rescue, St. George News

ST. GEORGE —Washington County Search and Rescue volunteers came to the aid of a mountain biker Saturday after the man wrecked his bike on the Zen Trail in the Green Valley area of St. George. The biker ultimately had to be transported to Dixie Regional Medical Center.

Emergency responders search for an injured mountain biker on the Zen Trail, St. George, Utah, March 21, 2015 | Photo courtesy of Washington County Search and Rescue, St. George News
Emergency responders search for an injured mountain biker on the Zen Trail, St. George, Utah, March 21, 2015 | Photo courtesy of Washington County Search and Rescue, St. George News

Just before 1 p.m., the Washington County Search and Rescue team was called out to the Zen Trail, which is a mountain bike path, to rescue a man who had landed on his head after his front tire snagged and flipped, Washington County Sheriff’s Deputy Darrell Cashin said.

A doctor from Salt Lake City and two Wilderness First Responders were passing by and were able to call for help as they assessed the situation and kept the man still, as he was complaining of numbness and tingling in his extremities, Cashin said. The man had been wearing a helmet, which split on impact.

Washington County Search and Rescue hike to find an injured mountain biker on the Zen Trail, St. George, Utah, March 21, 2015 | Photo courtesy of Washington County Search and Rescue, St. George News
Washington County Search and Rescue hike to find an injured mountain biker on the Zen Trail, St. George, Utah, March 21, 2015 | Photo courtesy of Washington County Search and Rescue, St. George News

The accident took place about a quarter-mile up the trail, so Mercy Air and Life Flight were called in to airlift the biker, but both were busy at the time of the incident, Cashin said.

Search and rescue volunteers, the St. George Fire Department and Washington County Sheriff’s deputies were able to assist in getting the man to the Fire Department’s six-wheel Polaris Ranger,  recently donated by Firehouse Subs, and then transport him to a waiting Gold Cross Ambulance, which took him to the hospital.

Following the accident, Cashin said, he followed up at Dixie Regional Medical Center, where the man was being observed. The man’s condition was still being monitored at the time of this publication.

Emergency responders place an injured mountain biker in an ATV specialized for medical transport, St. George, Utah, March 21, 2015 | Photo courtesy of Darren Inlay, St. George News
Emergency responders place an injured mountain biker in an ATV specialized for medical transport, St. George, Utah, March 21, 2015 | Photo courtesy of Darren Imlay, St. George News

“He was conscious and talking and still on the backboard,” Cashin said.

It took emergency responders until about 3 p.m. to get the man out of the trail area and to the hospital. In the case of such an accident, Cashin said, people should call for help and be sure not to move the person.

“You don’t know the injuries they might have,” he said. “Keep them as still as possible.”

This report is based on preliminary information provided by law enforcement or other emergency responders and may not contain the full scope of findings.

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Copyright St. George News, SaintGeorgeUtah.com LLC, 2015, all rights reserved.

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