North Shore Rescue plucks fallen hiker with spinal injuries off Goat Mountain

A fallen hiker was rescued from deep in the backcountry of Vancouver's North Shore mountains yesterday after falling nearly five metres and suffering spinal injuries and serious trauma to her face and neck.

A team of about 20 people from North Shore Rescue were called out at around 4 p.m. PT Sunday to help the 30-year-old woman, who was hiking on Goat Mountain, north of Grouse Mountain, in North Vancouver.

The woman was having trouble breathing, making the operation especially time-sensitive, said team leader Mike Danks.

"Things really aligned for this young lady because she had a really serious injury," he told CBC News.

• Intense video shows just how challenging a mountain rescue can be
• North Shore Rescue volunteers taxed to the max

The team reached her by helicopter, and conducted a long line rescue after stabilizing her.

"Thankfully she was close by to one of our caches and we were able to access our medical equipment to get her packaged up quickly," said Danks.

Last week, North Shore Rescue released a video showing just how dangerous it can be to conduct a long line rescue.

After locating the patient, a rescue team is dangled 150 ft. below the helicopter, to reach the person on the ground. After medical help which in this case would include stabilizing the woman's spine the rescuers and patient are lifted by helicopter.

The woman was transported to hospital with serious injuries.