Equestrian Airlifted From Near Trabuco Creek

An equestrian was airlifted Tuesday afternoon to the trauma center at Mission Hospital after she fell from her spooked horse.

The woman, an employee at the , was riding west of Trabuco Creek near 26284 Oso Rd. during her lunch break when the horse became spooked, and she fell off, a spokesman for the nonprofit said.

The Orange County Fire Authority responded at about 2 p.m. and the woman was airlifted out in about one hour. According to Shea Center spokesman John Caldwell, firefighters had trouble accessing the site because it was muddy from recent rains.

The extent of the woman's injuries was not immediately known, however, she was conscious during the rescue and was still being treated Tuesday evening, Caldwell said.

Fellow Shea Center staffers, an EMT among them, were the first to respond.

"We have been called out to assist on the trails when there have been incidents," Shea Center Executive Director Dana Butler-Moburg said in a statement. "It's hard when it's on of our own, but our staff were exemplary in their response."

The injured woman's horse was unscathed.