A man fell nearly 50 feet near Steelhead Falls on Crooked River Ranch on Sept 22.

An elderly man was seriously injured after falling nearly 50 feet down a steep bank near Steelhead Falls on Sept. 21.

Police say the man, who was rescued from the rocky bank along the Deschutes River, has “life threatening injuries.” He was flown via air ambulance to St. Charles, Bend.

The man’s name was not immediately available.

According to Crooked River Ranch Fire, crews from their agency, along with Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office and Oregon State Police, responded about 5 p.m. to find “an elderly man lying on the bank just downriver from Steelhead Falls,” according to a release.

According to law enforcement, the man was familiar with trail and hiking with his daughter “when he suddenly fell, causing him to tumble nearly 50 feet to the river’s edge.”

Rescuers said they were able to stabilize the man and move him from the bank before placing him on a stretcher and hiking a half mile up the canyon to an ambulance.