An elderly woman is recovering in hospital after she fell down a steep embankment and became stuck near a fast-moving ravine in Toronto's west end.

A person who lives nearby noticed the woman was stuck in the muddy banks of Etobicoke Creek at approximately 11:15 a.m. Sunday and called 911.

The ravine is located behind a building in the area of Highway 427 and Bloor Street West. Firefighters were called on scene after paramedics realized the rescue would be too risky, as the woman was near fast-moving waters.

"When we arrived we saw that the lady was at the bottom of a fairly steep ravine," Ken Dion of Toronto Fire Services told CTV Toronto on Sunday. "It was pretty close to the river … That was one of our concerns."

The woman's worried family watched as crews worked to slowly pull her out of the precarious spot using a basket and ropes. She was quickly covered with blankets once rescuers reached the ambulance that transported her to a trauma centre.

Police say the incident was medical-related and is not considered suspicious.