Swampy ground saved woman

SwampA woman fighting the forest fire near Fort McMurray can thank her lucky stars that muskeg is so mushy. The soft ground likely saved her life.

Occupational Health and Safety spokesman Linda Park said the woman was riding a quad to guide bulldozers through the forest when one of the massive machines ran right over her.

Fortunately for her, they were on swampy muskeg, so the weight of the machine simply pushed her into the ground. When the 'dozer passed over, she popped back up again, to the shock of the driver of a second Caterpillar, who was following.

"I don't know which would be worse, to have been the quad driver or to have seen it happen to her," Park said.

The woman was flown by helicopter to Fort McMurray and then transported to the U of A hospital.

Park said her only injuries were a broken arm and damage to one ear. She might need surgery for her arm, Park said.

She added that part of the problem was restricted visibility for the drivers of the bulldozers, who had to keep their blades elevated to avoid catching them on the ground.

When the woman stopped, the 'dozer driver likely couldn't see her.

Link: CNews
Image: Flickr
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