Updated: Hiker Falls at Eaton Canyon, Airlifted to Hospital

A 25-year-old woman was "lucky to be alive" today after she lost her footing and fell from the waterfalls at Eaton Canyon Monday, authorities said.

Firefighters and a sheriff's search-and-rescue team were called to Eaton Canyon at 6 p.m., said Capt. Mark Savage of the county fire department.

Savage said the initial report was that the woman had fallen 100 feet. Later, he said that the woman may have slid down the cliff for the first 75 feet and then went into a freefall for the last 25 feet.

"She landed on flat ground between two boulders. If she had hit the boulders, it would have been very bad,'" Savage said.  "As it is, she's lucky to be alive."'

Savage said that her injuries appeared to be moderate when she was taken to a trauma center for evaluation and treatment.

"We hope she escaped any serious injuries," he said. The woman was hiking with three others when she lost her footing.