Firefighters rescue photographer after 60-metre fall in Riding Mountain National Park

A photographer fell more than 60 metres while trying to take pictures Wednesday evening in Manitoba's Riding Mountain National Park, but she'll recover, emergency officials say.

Dauphin fire Chief Cameron Abrey said emergency crews were called just after midnight Thursday to the Moon Lake area on the northern edge of the park near the western Manitoba city. The woman lost her footing and fell more than 60 metres while taking pictures alongside Highway 10, he said. 

The woman called 911 but wasn't able to give her location, Abrey said. Operators used the cellphone's signal to pinpoint where she was in the park and send help.

"We're unsure of what time she actually stopped there," Abrey said, explaining he suspects she was unconscious immediately after the fall. "She did indicate that she was trying to take some photos when she lost her footing and fell over the ravine.

"It was possibly daylight when she went down there."

'Very fortunate'

It's the first time the fire department has been called to a rescue of that type in Riding Mountain National Park in Abrey's 17 years with the department, he said. Firefighters used ropes to lower a basket down to the woman and lift her up, he said.

"[She is] very fortunate," he said. "Minor injuries considering the length of the fall down there and the hazards with the trees and other brush." 

The rescue took about an hour once crews got to the scene, he said.

He hopes the rescue reminds others to be careful when enjoying the park.

"We're very fortunate to live so close to such a beautiful park," Abrey said. "Whether it's wild animals, whether it's the terrain, whatever it may be, please be aware of what's out there so we don't have to come out to rescue anyone else."

The woman was taken to hospital in Dauphin shortly after the rescue. Abrey didn't know how old the woman was nor where she was from. 

Riding Mountain National Park is about 250 kilometres northwest of Winnipeg.