A MACKAY woman had to be winched off the top of a mountain by RACQ CQ Rescue last night after breaking her ankle.

The 55-year-old was hiking along a walking track at The Leap with a male late yesterday afternoon when she broke her right ankle.

An RACQ CQ Rescue air crewman said the helicopter was tasked about 5.50pm after a 000 call was received.

"After making phone contact with one of the stranded hikers to clarify their exact location on the walking track on the mountain, the rescuers flew direct to the scene,” the crewman said.

"Given the very rocky and steep terrain and that the hikers were at the top of the mountain with nightfall fast approaching, ground recovery of the injured woman was not possible. The crew decided winching the walkers off the mountain was the safest option, the RACQ CQ Rescue air crewman said.

"As the helicopter hovered overhead with a doctor and Critical Care Paramedic on board, an RACQ CQ Rescue rescue crewman was winched down to a rocky clearing very close to the patient's location.

"The patient was then carried by the rescue crewman and her hiking partner about 50 metres from the site of injury to the winch location. She was strapped into an ARV (Air Rescue Vest) and winched up into the helicopter where she received immediate treatment and pain relief by the medical team on board.

"As the second hiker didn't have any lighting, had very little water and there was a high risk of injury if he hiked out alone, the rescue crewman was again lowered down to the mountain to secure the man into a harness and also winch him up into the helicopter.”

Both hikers were taken Mackay Base Hospital in a stable condition, arriving at 7pm.