Motorists were startled around noon on Thursday to see a number of emergency vehicles gathered and a helicopter lifting off from the Chemainus industrial park beside the Trans-Canada Highway.
Cpl. Jon Stuart and other members of the North Cowichan/Duncan RCMP detachment were on the scene quickly, along with paramedics and members of the Chemainus Fire Department.
"We had a call of an industrial accident at Centurion Lumber on Henry Road in Chemainus," Stuart said.
"Somebody had an accident in the planer mill so we of course dispatched all our resources. One male in his mid to late fifties has been airlifted to hospital with undetermined injuries at this time."
Only one person was involved in the incident.
The helicopter, which was dispatched from Vancouver, arrived very quickly and the injured man was airlifted out by about 12:20 p.m., according to the police at the site.