A woman was stabbed early Thursday morning during a home invasion in Mayerthorpe, Alta., 130 kilometres northeast of Edmonton, RCMP said.

The woman told police she woke to find a man standing in her bedroom doorway holding a hammer and a utility knife.

When he attacked, the woman fought back and the two fell down a flight of stairs. The man then choked the woman until she was unconscious, Mayerthorpe RCMPsaid.

The attacker fled the house after the woman's son woke up and ran to help her.

A suspect, who was not known to the victim, was arrested four hours later walking on the highway, said. Charges are pending against a 34-year-old man.

The woman was treated for injuries to her neck.