A 47-year-old woman endured a night stranded in Warrumbungle National Park, New South Wales, after a rock climbing accident left her injured near the Grand High Tops lookout. Accompanied by an 80-year-old man, she fell at approximately 5pm while climbing. In response to her distress, the man activated a personal locator beacon (PLB), prompting a search by emergency services.
Rescue teams, including Blue Mountains Police Rescue, PolAir, and a Toll Ambulance Rescue helicopter, reached the scene early the following morning, around 8:30am. The dedicated efforts of approximately eight officers and 100kg of specialist equipment enabled a challenging vertical rescue from a cliff.
Following rescue operations, the woman was transported by air to Dubbo Base Hospital, where she is being treated for suspected broken ribs. Fortunately, the elderly man was unharmed during the incident.
Acting Superintendent Paul Stephens of the Orana Mid-Western Police District commended the joint efforts of the rescue teams. He noted that the successful outcome reflects the commitment and skill of all involved, especially considering the challenging landscape in which the operation took place. He expressed gratitude towards emergency services partners and volunteers for their significant contributions.