A nurse died after falling from a hoist on a medical helicopter during a rescue mission on a hiking trail in Austin, Texas, earlier this week.

Kristin McLain, 46, became detached and fell from a STAR Flight hoist Monday night as she was in the process of rescuing a female hiker who had taken a fall in the Barton Creek Greenbelt, according to a STAR Flight news release, reports The Associated Press.

McLain, who served as a flight nurse and rescuer on the chopper, was part of a team that was called to an area near the 2600 block of Barton Hills Drive around 8:30 p.m. to help the fallen hiker. However, McLain fell from the helicopter's hoist as the woman was being lifted to safety about 9:50 p.m.

The hiker, who has not been identified, was lifted to the EC-145 helicopter and taken to University Medical Center-Brackenridge in Austin where she was treated for non-life-threatening injuries. McLain, on the other hand, died at the scene. She had worked for STAR Flight for seven years.

Lisa Block, a spokeswoman for Travis County Emergency Services, said the hoist is an arm that extends off the helicopter and allows rescuers to direct a carrier to a patient. The helicopters usually carry a pilot, a hoist operator and a nurse or other rescuer, she added.

"Safety comes first with STAR Flight," Block told The AP. "So of course we will be looking at everything that happened, all of our equipment, the processes to see what needs to be improved. That will also be part of the investigation. Right now our thoughts are with the family and her friends."

Block said the company has temporarily ceased operations.

"A lot of times STAR Flight will go to community groups and talk about what they do. She was always smiling and telling people about what she does. She was very passionate about her job," Block said.

STAR Flight Director of Aviation Willy Culberson also released a statement, describing Kristin "as a wonderful Flight Nurse and a very special friend. I am going to miss her with all of my heart," reports KXAN.