Person rescued in South Austin after falling 30 to 40 feet from cliff

Officials say the person fell at around 8:32 a.m. near Spyglass and Barton Skyway. They are calling the operation a wilderness rescue.

AUSTIN, Texas - Austin-Travis County EMS says a person suffered serious injuries after falling 30 to 40 feet from a cliff in South Austin.

First responders say the man fell around 8:30 a.m. in the Barton Creek Greenbelt, near the Spyglass Trailhead.

Battalion Chief Shannon Edwards of the Austin Fire Department says the man was "in and out of consciousness." Bystanders on the busy trail heard him screaming and called 9-1-1.

"I’ve been coming down here for probably over 40 years now and it can be dangerous." said Hal Zochert, who walks his dog ‘Bear’ on the trail. "When there’s a bit of water down there it is really slick."

Edwards told FOX 7 Austin first responders decided to utilize a STAR Flight helicopter for the rescue due to the trail and the fall victim’s condition. "With conditions [Monday] just all the rain and how slick it was down there and the patient down there and the patient condition," he explained.

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Edwards says the fall victim was surrounded by large boulders, so first responders had to move him into a clearing where STAR Flight was able to drop a medic. "And that medic comes down and we assist him with actually latching the patient to the backboard then that medic goes up with the patient in the STAR Flight."

The medic and "seriously injured" man were airlifted to Dell Seton Medical Center.

"Man I hope that persons alright." said Zochert.