80-year-old man flown out by helicopter after horse accident in Wasatch County

The accident occurred around 6 p.m. Friday evening east of Heber in the Crooked Creek area.

An 80-year-old man was thrown from his horse in the wilderness, resulting in “significant injuries,” according to Kam Kohler, head of the Wasatch County Search and Rescue Unit.

“I’m not sure if that’s what threw him off, or if sometimes it’s just the terrain you’re in,” he said. “And he flew through the air and landed on the ground, and old guys like me don’t jump as well as we used to.”

Kohler said the octogenarian may have suffered head injuries and was flown to hospital by helicopter.

He said the man is currently recovering and praised him for still visiting nature on his horse at the age of 80.

“I give him great praise for the fact that he can still ride such horses at his age,” said Kohler.

He said search and rescue services typically receive a handful of horse-related calls each year.