Editor’s Note: The original version of this story indicated the woman had fallen a distance of approximately 15 metres (50 feet). Parks Canada has since confirmed that the fall was between five and eight metres.
A woman suffered multiple traumatic injuries and was airlifted to hospital following a Monday afternoon incident near Peyto Lake in Banff National Park.
According to Parks Canada officials from the Lake Louise, Yoho and Kootenay field unit, a 53-year-old woman had been hiking with her husband west of the Peyto Lookout when she left the trail to step onto a rock band. She suffered a fall of roughly five to eight metres (16 to 26 feet) and landed on several boulders below, fracturing her pelvis in the process.
Parks Canada said she also suffered head and neck injuries.
The woman’s husband and several other hikers, including two firefighters and an emergency room doctor, made their way to her and a call for help was made.
Parks Canada members arrived on scene and the fall victim was long-lined by an Alpine Helicopters crew to a staging area on Highway 93 North.
EMS officials confirmed a STARS Air Ambulance crew transported her to the Foothills Medical Centre in serious condition.
Parks Canada encourages all visitors to stay on designated pathways and to avoid cliff edges. Hikers are also asked to watch for hazards in the mountain parks, both on trail and off, including loose rocks, soft soil and slippery areas.