OLYMPIC VALLEY, Calif. and#8212; A Reno man suffered serious injuries in a rock climbing accident late Sunday afternoon near the Big Chief access road between Squaw Valley and Truckee, authorities said.

Eric Johnson, 23, of Reno, fell approximately 40 feet off one of the areaand#8217;s popular climbing routes, breaking both heels and a vertebra. He fell after his climbing partner failed to secure an adequate belay (something to which a person or rope is anchored), according to an accident report filed by the California Highway Patrol. The name of the climbing partner was not included in the report.

With the assistance of CHP Paramedic Matt Calcutt, Johnson was placed in a hoist and transported via CHP helicopter to Tahoe Forest Hospital in Truckee.

It is unknown whether or not Johnson suffered additional injuries.