View Larger Map

An injured hiker and her friend were plucked to safety from Nova Scotia's Cape Split Wednesday afternoon.

The two women had hiked the main trail to the tip of the peninsula and were climbing down a steep trail to a beach when one of them fell on the rough ground and hurt her shoulder.

With the Bay of Fundy tides on the rise and no way to get back up the high cliffs, the women dialed 911 from their cellphone.

Jeff Skaling, deputy chief of the Canning fire department, said the hikers estimated the beach would be under water in 30 to 45 minutes.

"But they felt they were OK for a while, and we made contact with them quite quickly," he said.

The fire department sent two boats from the Scots Bay wharf, while a military Cormorant helicopter was dispatched from the airbase in Greenwood to assist if needed.

The boats reached the women in time and took them back to Scots Bay. The injured woman was then taken to hospital.

Skaling said the hikers were cold but not hypothermic. He's thankful they had a cellphone with them.