Climber airlifted with life-threatening injuries after 20-metre fall near Lac Des Arcs

A mountain climber has been airlifted to a Calgary hospital after falling about 20 metres on a trail near Lac Des Arcs Campground Friday afternoon, paramedics said in a release.

EMS responded to Heart Creek Trailwhich is about 17 kilometres east of Canmorearound 3 p.m.

A paramedic and conservation officer hiked for about 20 minutes to reach the injured man in a back country area where he was stabilized.

The manbelieved to be in his 30swas extricated by helicopter to a nearby parking lot where EMS and STARS Air Ambulance took him to Foothills hospital in potentially life-threatening condition with soft-tissue and internal injuries.

It's unknown what caused the fall or if the climber was using safety equipment, EMS said.