Local emergency responders rescued an asylum seeker near Emerson on the weekend.

The woman was attempting to walk across the border into Canada when she became stuck in deep snow early Saturday morning.

Emerson-Franklin Reeve Dave Carlson says, not only did she become stuck in the snow, but she was also pregnant and in labour.

The woman managed to use her cell phone to call for help and volunteers with Emerson-Franklin Emergency Services immediately began to search for her.

"Hats off to our first responders. They eventually found her and rescued her. They dealt with her until the ambulance arrived, but they literally saved her life because she was in a situation where she was stuck in the snow and could have possibly had the baby right there or possibly have died due to exposure if she hadn't been able to call."

The woman was taken to an area hospital, however, Carlson says they've received no word on her condition. He emphasized how the situation underscores the dangers of crossing the border illegally.

"This could have been a double tragedy considering she was carrying a child. It's dangerous and something has to be done to discourage this because people are risking their lives doing this."

Carlson said, while the number of asylum seekers entering Canada illegally has tailed off over the past couple of years, people are still walking across into Canada.

"It's risky, especially at this time of year. Things can go bad very quickly. In this situation, luckily, everyone was alright."