Fremont County Search and Rescue (FCSAR) units responded to a snowmobile accident around 11:37 a.m. on Monday near Henry's Lake.
It's believed that the man involved suffered severe injuries and those injuries were extensive enough to call in a Life Flight ambulance. Earlier on Monday, Life Flight officials landed in Ashton and were taken to Island Park, where they awaited the injured man.
According to FCSAR Secretary Eric Thomas, it took a considerable amount of time to retrieve the injured man from the accident scene.
“He did have an injury that required that we sled him out. With the banana sled — it's a lightweight sled we can put a backboard in and strap him down. It makes things really slow coming out,” he said. “Apparently he was back up in some really extreme terrain.”
The weather also proved another challenge in retrieving the man, Thomas said.
“Up there they've got fog, and it's snowing and blowing. It's pretty bad. Visibility is really low,” he said.
The man was snowmobiling with friends who managed to walk to cellphone service and contact Fremont County Dispatch, Thomas said.
Thomas didn't know the extent of the man's injuries but believed they may be extensive.
“I suspect it's pretty bad,” Thomas said.
It's expected that the man will be taken to an area hospital for further treatment.
