Injured skier in Nelson rescued by helicopter long-line

Photo: Nelson Search and Rescue

An injured skier was rescued from the backcountry near Nelson Saturday afternoon by a helicopter long-line.

Late in the afternoon, Nelson Search and Rescue were called to the Enma Peak area in the Whitewater backcountry for a report of an injured skier.

“The safest, most efficient way to perform the rescue was via a helicopter and class D long line,” Nelson SAR posted to Facebook.

“There was just enough daylight left in the day for this method to be effective.”

The skier was rescued using the helicopter's long-line and taken to the Whitewater Ski Resort parking lot, where an ambulance was waiting.

Nelson SAR says if the skier had called for help any later in the day, the helicopter rescue may not have been possible.