AN elderly Victorian tourist was yesterday at the centre of a dramatic helicopter rescue at Granite Gorge Nature Park southwest of Cairns.

The 85-year-old Melbourne man was flown to Cairns Base Hospital in a serious but stable condition when he slipped and fell between two boulders on a steep incline at the gorge, on the outskirts of Mareeba.

He suffered a suspected broken pelvis and ambulance crews suspect the man may have lower back injuries.

Tableland, Cape and Torres Strait operations supervisor Gavin Rablin said ambulance crews called in the Queensland Rescue helicopter because of access problems removing the man from the scene.

They lit a signal fire to guide the helicopter to the scene.

"His injuries could be serious because of his age and it was too dangerous to carry him out because of the slippery rocks," he said.

"He had to be taken to Cairns Base Hospital and the best way to get him there was by chopper."

Mr Rablin said the man had been at the base of the rockface for 40 minutes and when ambulance crews arrived, he was suffering a lot of pain and was starting to go into shock.

He said an off-duty registered nurse provided initial medical care.

"His blood pressure was low and he was showing the early stages of shock and he was in severe pain," Mr Rablin said.

"We treated his shock condition with intravenous fluids and provided him with warmth because it was quite cool."

Mr Rablin said when the helicopter arrived, the man was stabilised and ready to be winched to safety.

Queensland Fire and Rescue Service Mareeba station officer Phil Miller said fire crews were on the scene to help ambulance staff to make sure the man was moved safely.

"We helped to move the casualty to the other side of the creek to a safe place for the helicopter to winch him aboard."

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