A woman in her 20s fell head first into a deep gap between two rocks in regional New South Wales and dangled upside down at her feet for seven hours before being rescued. She was trying to retrieve a dropped cellphone when the incident occurred in the Hunter Valley on October 12, 7News reported.
NSW Ambulance paramedics, along with a multi-disciplinary rescue team, had to use specialist winches to move heavy rocks to reach her. Some of them weighed 500 kg. After creating a stable access point, the team carefully guided the woman through the gap, a process that took an hour.
Rescue paramedic Peter Watts, who had never encountered such a situation in his 10 years of service, said the experience had been challenging but rewarding.
“In my 10 years as a rescue paramedic, I’ve never come across a job like this,” rescue paramedic Peter Watts told 7News.
The woman’s friends initially tried unsuccessfully to free her, then found a telephone reception and called for help. By the time rescuers arrived, she had already been stranded for more than an hour.
Despite spending seven hours upside down, the woman was rescued with only minor scrapes and bruises. Unfortunately, her phone could not be recovered. NSW Ambulance praised the teamwork involved in the complex and successful rescue.
“Each agency has a role to play, and we all worked together extremely well to achieve positive outcomes for our patients,” Watts said.
