A FIREFIGHTER has been taken to hospital after a failed attempt to rescue a koala at Toorak Gardens.

About 8.15am, MFS crews responded to calls to rescue a koala from a tree at Toorak Gardens.

An MFS firefighter was injured after falling from a ladder during the rescue and was taken to hospital for assessment of minor injuries.

It's understood the koala had sought refuge in a non-eucaplyptus tree.

Without a food source, the koala was at risk of crossing a busy road to find food.

The koala was successfully rescued and released a short time later.

Originally published as Firefighter falls in koala rescue attempt