Bicyclist airlifted after injuring himself in canyon

A mountain bicyclist suffered a broken thigh bone and had to be airlifted from El Moro Canyon late Friday morning, the Orange County Fire Authority reported.

The 39-year-old man fell off his bike while riding on the Old Emerald Trail at 10:09 a.m., Capt. Steve Concialdi said. A friend phoned the Fire Authority, which received help in the search and rescue from the Laguna Beach Fire Department and California Department of Parks and Recreation, the captain added.

The man, who also had a leg cut, was flown to Western Medical Center in Santa Ana, Concialdi said.

“We always recommend mountain biking with someone else,” he said. “If he was alone, he would have been there for some time.”

Concialdi also said it’s important to carry a charged cellphone and plenty of water when riding.

—Bryce Alderton

Twitter: @AldertonBryce