Mountain climber dies after falling 20 metres near Lac Des Arcs

A mountain climber has died after falling more than 20 metres on Heart Creek Trail near Alberta’s Lac Des Arcs.

The 42-year-old man was airlifted to hospital in potentially life-threatening condition Friday afternoon.

EMS responded and met with a conservation officer at about 2:45 p.m., who said the injured climber was “a distance into the backcountry.”

A paramedic and the officer hiked for about 20 minutes before finding the injured man, believed to be in his 30s, EMS said.

EMS suggested he landed on a hard surface after falling about 20 metres.

Alpine Helicopter and Kananaskis Country Public Safety helped extricate the climber using a helicopter and sling. STARS Air Ambulance then airlifted him to Calgary’s Foothills Medical Centre, EMS said.

“EMS has no information as to the cause of the fall, or if the individual was using/wearing safety equipment,” paramedics said in a statement.

Paramedics said he suffered “a variety of serious soft-tissue injuries and internal injury.”

Lac Des Arcs is located about 80 kilometres west of Calgary.