Woman falls while hiking Camelback Mountain

PHOENIX (KSAZ) - Phoenix Fire says they have rushed a hiker who fell on Camelback Mountain to the hospital with critical injuries.

Crews responded to the mountain after 3 p.m. Tuesday on the Echo Canyon side of the mountain. Witnesses say the girl was free-climbing without any safety equipment. when she lost her grip and fell

A technical rescue team hiked up to the victim and quickly brought her down the mountain.

"Suddenly she dropped and so did our hearts," said a witness.

Officials identified the hiker as a woman in her 20's, who fell almost 100 feet down. Medical crews say she was unconscious but breathing with obvious broken bones as they brought her down the mountain.

Witnesses say they were shocked as she plummeted, possibly to her death.

Paramedics rushed her to a valley hospital, her condition is not known.