A shortcut on the way home from school turned into a trip to the hospital for a Wayne Middle School student, police said Monday.

According to a statement from police, a group of students decided to take a short cut through the woods after leaving Anthony Wayne Middle School. Part of the terrain includes a steep hillside within the wooded area. Authorities said that while heading down the hill, an 11-year-old boy slid, causing his thigh to become impaled by a large stick.

One of the students remained at the location with the student and called 911 to summon first responders, while another friend headed back to the school to get help. Within minutes, both police and school officials arrived to begin assisting the student.

"The Wayne Police School Resource Officer assigned to that school, Detective John Barrows, went to the boy's aid along with the school's principal," police said in a statement. "Detective Barrows climbed down to the boy. Officer Davon Jacobs of the Wayne Police Patrol Division climbed up the hill to assist."

Due to the uneven ground and the location, crews from Wayne Fire Department's Special Response Team rescued the boy using a Stokes basket, which is a piece of equipment used to help immobilize and transport victims over steep or rough terrain.

Members of the Wayne First Aid Squad and paramedics from St. Joseph's Medical Center assisted with the rescue before providing first aid on the scene, and eventually transporting the student to a hospital. Police say the boy's injuries were not considered life-threatening.