Portsmouth, Navy Personnel Rescue Injured Hiker at Melville Campground

crews, along with Navy personnel, helped rescue a female hiker who fell late Monday morning while walking on a trail at .

The woman, who is believed to be in her late 50s, apparently tripped over a tree trunk on the blue trail in the park. A fellow hiker, who was walking her dog, noticed the incident and used the victim's cell phone to call for help just before 11 a.m.

"It looked like she tripped over a tree trunk," said Mary Beth O'Connor. "She thought she broke something."

Portsmouth's emergency officials responded to Melville Park, along with personnel from Navy Fire and Emergency Services Newport, who brought their "Gator," an all-terrain vehicle.

The woman was located on the trail, treated for injuries and transported out of the woods about 30 minutes later on the Gator. She was then transported by ambulance to Newport Hospital. The extent of her injuries are unknown. 

This was the first time the Gator has been used in Portsmouth. Melville Campground workers also assisted in the response.

"The campground workers were a tremendous help," said Portsmouth Fire Chief Jeffrey P. Lynch at the scene. "The mutual aid system works swimmingly."