Rock Climber Rescued After Breaking Her Ankle

A 39-year-old woman who was rescued after falling from a ledge while rock-climbing said she was partly inspired to take up the dangerous hobby by the film “Cliffhanger.”

Rochelle Scott, who was airlifted to safety by firefighters using a helicopter, broke her ankle while climbing at Stoney Point, a popular site for enthusiasts of the often-dangerous sport.

“It was fascinating,” Scott said about the movie before undergoing surgery on a broken ankle Sunday afternoon.

Scott, her children, ages 6 and 9, and her boyfriend were hiking and climbing near Topanga Canyon Boulevard and the Simi Valley Freeway about 10:45 a.m. when she fell while jumping from one ledge to another.

“It’s a jump we’ve done before and they did fine--everybody but me,” Scott said. “I landed on my feet, but I heard the crack right away.”

Unable to climb out, Scott’s boyfriend went for help and led firefighters back to Scott, she said.

“We were at the top of one of the peaks,” Scott said.

About 25 firefighters and two ambulances worked to rescue Scott, who was trapped on the northeast side of Stoney Point, said Los Angeles Fire Department spokesman Bob Collis.

Rescuers climbed to the spot where she fell, placed her in a basket-like stretcher, then lowered her to the ground, Collis said. She was stabilized then airlifted to Northridge Hospital Medical Center. She was later moved to West Hills Medical Center.

Scott said she had broken her ankle in three places.

“The crummy thing is that I’m starting a new job . . . in two weeks,” Scott said.

The location where Scott fell is a “pretty rugged area,” frequented by rock climbers, Collis said.

“You can go out there on a Sunday and find cars parked all along Topanga Canyon,” he said. “They’re all over it like ants.”