A hiker fell 50 feet near Bells Canyon Waterfall on Saturday night, Aug. 1, suffering head and neck injuries that left them in critical condition after a multi-agency rescue on one of Sandy's most popular trails.

Salt Lake County Sheriff's Search and Rescue received the call at 8:59 p.m., according to KSL. Sandy City Fire Department personnel were first on scene, hiking to the patient in the dark and initiating medical care.

The situation required more than a ground evacuation. Sandy Fire requested backup from Salt Lake County Sheriff's Search and Rescue and the Utah Department of Public Safety, which deployed a helicopter hoist to lift the injured hiker off the mountain.

Crews placed the hiker into a spinal immobilization device before the DPS helicopter hoisted them to the Bells Canyon Trailhead parking lot, where a ground ambulance was waiting, ABC4 reported. The patient was transported to a local hospital in critical condition, according to Chris Bronson with the Salt Lake County Sheriff's Office.

All responding personnel were safely off the mountain by 11 p.m., roughly two hours after the initial call.

The hiker has not been identified. No update on their condition has been released.

A trail with a documented history of falls

The lower Bells Canyon Waterfall trail is a 4.5-mile round trip from the Preservation Trailhead and rated moderate. But the waterfall area itself carries real danger. Hiking guides for the canyon warn that "several people have been injured and even killed slipping and falling into the falls."

The Salt Lake County Sheriff's Office urged caution for anyone heading into the canyon this summer. Waterfalls and steep canyon terrain can be hazardous, especially after dark, the office said, advising hikers to stay on designated trails, maintain a safe distance from cliff edges and remain aware of changing conditions.

The entire rescue unfolded after sunset on rocky terrain near the falls. The Bells Canyon trail remains open, and no additional agency briefings have been announced.