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Deep Snow, Police Officer Help Save Rider After Horse Falls On Her In Newburyport Park

NEWBURYPORT (CBS) - The deep snow and a quick-thinking police officer helped save a woman after her horse fell on top of her over the weekend.

Two women were riding their horses in Maudslay State Park in Newburyport Saturday afternoon when one horse slipped, the rider fell off and the horse landed on the rider.

"I can't feel my legs" the Rowley woman said on the 911 call to Newburyport Police.

WBZ NewsRadio 1030's Carl Stevens reports

Newburyport Horse Rider Rescue

But a rescue wasn't going to be easy because they were deep in the snowy woods and they were running out of daylight.

"When the officers arrived it was determined that it was difficult to access where (the women) were, so one of my officers, officer Eric Marshall, accommodated a snowmobile and he was able to get them out to where the young lady was with some medical supplies," Newburyport Police Lt. Mark Murray told WBZ NewsRadio 1030.

Newburyport Fire Department Lt. Stephen Hamilton told WBZ-TV that the depth of the snow helped minimize the woman's injuries.

"She landed in some very deep snow. The horse fell on top of her and pushed her further in the snow," Hamilton said.

But getting her out to an ambulance was still going to be an issue, so they called Newbury emergency management.

"They have this thing called, I believe, it's an Argo. It's a four-wheel vehicle that they were able to put a stretcher on and get her out," Murray said.

Newburyport Argo
The Argo track machine used in the rescue. (Photo courtesy: Newburyport Fire Dept.-Facebook)

The woman, whose name has not been released, was taken to Anna Jacques Hospital with "non-life threatening" injuries.

Murray said the horse is fine.

WBZ-TV's Paul Burton contributed to this report.

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