17-year-old trapped in machinery at Algonquin snowboarding park

A 17-year-old employee was injured Sunday afternoon when his arm became tangled up in the machinery that operates a ski lift at the Raging Buffalo Snowboard and Ski Park in Algonquin.

Algonquin-Lake in the Hills Fire Protection District responded to the park at 19N475 Route 31 at 1:46 p.m. after a co-worker discovered the teen entrapped in the conveyor lift, officials said.

John Greene, the Algonquin Fire Department battalion chief, said more than 30 rescuers worked for about an hour to remove the young man who was then airlifted to Advocate Lutheran General Hospital in Park Ridge.

Michael Gilloffo, the Kane County Forest Preserve Police Chief, said the injury was serious and it occurred when the employee was working on the gear lift.

The condition of the victim has not been released at this time, and the accident remains under investigation, officials said.

Raging Buffalo officials were not immediately available for comment. According to the Raging Buffalo Facebook page, the park will be closed for the rest of Sunday and all day Monday.