Woman rushed to hospital after falling down embankment in McKenzie area

A woman in her 40s was sent to hospital Friday afternoon after falling down a steep embankment near a community golf course in the McKenzie area.

Carol Henke, public information officer with the Calgary Fire Department, says crews responded around 2:15 p.m. but had difficulty accessing her because of where she landed.

Using a specialized tool, the technical rescue team had to rappel down the hill to get her out of the ravine.

It was later determined the woman had slipped on some ice. Henke says Calgarians need to be extra cautious while walking on ice-covered sidewalks.

“It just takes one slip or fall to create some pretty dangerous injuries that take a long time to heal,” she told CityNews.

“The fluctuating weather has created some risky situations on people’s driveways, on sidewalks, and on the pathways, so our recommendation is you always want to use caution.”

She recommends wearing cleats while navigating icy sidewalks. And for those who don’t have this equipment, she says using the tried-and-true “penguin walk” method, is always another good option.

The woman was conscious when she was transported to hospital, but Henke says her current condition is unknown.