YA'AN, Sichuan - A 78-year-old man was rescued on Wednesday afternoon in Baoxing county of Ya'an city in Southwest China's Sichuan province, five days after an earthquake hit the area, according to the municipal government on Thursday.

The man is the first survivor saved after the "golden rescue time," or the immediate 72 hours after the quake.

He was found on a hill top at Muping Township of Baoxing County by the Beijing-based Lantian rescue team at about 1 pm Wednesday, and was sent to Baoxing People's Hospital by helicopter.

The man suffered a rib fracture but is in stable condition.

A 7.0-magnitude quake jolted Lushan County of Sichuan's Ya'an City at 8:02 am Saturday Beijing Time, according to the China Earthquake Networks Center.