A rock climber is tonight in a serious condition at Flinders Medical Centre following a dramatic rescue at Clarendon in the Adelaide Hills.

Emergency services were called to the Onkaparinga River National Park around 12.30pm when a man became tangled in his climbing ropes around 10 metres from the ground.

The rescue helicopter arrived at the scene as police, paramedics and fire crews made their way in on the ground.

It's understood the climber - aged in his 70s - was so badly tangled he had to be winched out by the helicopter.

It was around two hours later the man was finally flown out to safety.

He touched down at Flinders around 3pm and was wheeled inside for treatment.

He remains in a serious but stable condition.

DOWNLOAD THE 9NEWS APP : Stay across all the la

See Full Page