Mother, 2-year-old hospitalized after falling roughly 50 feet at Multnomah Falls
A mother and her 2-year-old daughter were hospitalized Sunday after falling while hiking at Multnomah Falls.
According to the Multnomah County Sheriff's Office, the two fell from a height of approximately 50 feet. Fellow hikers, including one off-duty Emergency Room doctor, rushed to their aid right after it happened.
According to witnesses who spoke to KATU News, roughly a dozen people went over to the water where the mother and daughter landed and tried to help.
“It was very clear like the baby was like injured," said one witness, Ericka Klein. “Someone had grabbed the baby from the mom, and then somebody else was down there with the mom, making sure she was okay. She had a broken leg, I think."
Bystanders say the daughter fell from the path first, and then the mother followed her down.
"Eventually, saw the mother and the baby getting carried out of the water," recounted Julia Hariri, who was there when the accident happened. "The baby was the only one that was actually on the ground right here, with people huddled around her."
KATU News' Frances Lin shows where the fall happened:
“When I came up here, and I had some of the blankets and jackets, good Samaritans had already surrounded the little one," said Jill Willis, Vice President of Multnomah Falls Company.
Employees at Multnomah Falls called for help and also made sure the path was clear for emergency personnel to reach the mother and daughter.
“Because that could be a challenge out here, making sure that emergency vehicles can get down the highway because it can get very congested," explained Willis.
Deputies and other emergency personnel responded to the scene at around 12:20 p.m. Authorities say the mother and daughter were taken to the hospital for medical treatment. Neither of their injuries is thought to be life-threatening, according to the sheriff's office.
Multnomah County authorities extended their thanks to the bystanders who jumped in to assist while first responders were en route.
