Photo: COSAR

Central Okanagan Search and Rescue were called to action Monday night after an injured mountain biker needed help.

COSAR members used bikes and a side-by-side UTV to access the patient who was in a remote location in the Crawford trails.

Rescuers found the patient and carried him in a stretcher until they could reach the side-by-side UTV.

He was then transferred to hospital early Tuesday morning.

"The pair of mountain bikers was able to provide COSAR with GPS co-ordinates of their location using a popular mountain biking app called TrailForks," said Ephraim Nowak search manager. "This allowed our team to quickly reach the subject, assess his condition, and stabilize him for transport. The bikers were able to assist in their own rescue, simply because they took the time to familiarize themselves with the area and their equipment before heading out."

Due to the remote location, COSAR had to use a multi-staged approach to evacuate the patient - first carrying him on foot in a stretcher, then using the UTV, before handing the patient off to ambulance personnel. Weather conditions were favourable, and didn't interfere in the rescue.