Woman trampled by deer in South Walton

SANTA ROSA BEACH - A woman taking a morning walk at Tops'l Resort in South Walton County was seriously injured when she was trampled by deer Tuesday.

According to South Walton Fire District Deputy Chief Sean Hughes, the woman was near a wooded area near the tennis courts shortly before 8 a.m. when three deer ran out of the woods and trampled her.

Emergency crews arrived minutes later and called for AirHeart helicopter to take the woman to Sacred Heart Hospital in Pensacola because of possible head injuries.

The woman was not identified.

According to Tops'l employee Aubrey Williams, who saw the incident, the woman, her husband and daughter had gone for a walk. The mother got too warm and turned to return to her rental unit. She was some distance away from her family when the deer came out of the brush.

"She was at the wrong place at the wrong time," said Williams.

Williams said the woman has broken ribs, back injuries and a light concussion and was in intensive care at Sacred Heart.