Cliff rescue
EMERGENCY services responded after a couple found themselves stranded off a track at Cape Woolamai on Sunday.
The couple called triple zero after they found themselves in danger at The Pinnacles off Cape Woolamai at Phillip Island at 11.30am.
The pair from Eltham, aged 65 and 58, walked out on the makeshift track to take in the view when the ground around them began to give way.
San Remo police conducted a search and rescue with CFA units and Woolamai Surf Life Saving Club.
The three hour operation saw services use stakes and harnesses to retrieve the stranded tourists who were returned to safety at 2.30pm.
“Please keep to the marked track which is safe and well set up. We are always tempted to get a better view however this incident showed just one of the consequences of not sticking to the track,” San Remo Sergeant Bruce Kent said.
The couple was treated by paramedics and released without injury.
While the couple have not been blamed for their mistake, local authorities would like to remind both tourists and residents to be wary of weather conditions and terrain stability when walking on rocky tracks.
“There is a mutton bird rookery in the area and as a result of the incident the birds were disturbed. Furthermore we had a helicopter and at least 20 members from emergency services turn up to the incident. This is a cost to the community,” Sgt Kent said.
“We want tourists to use a bit of thought, whether they are going for a bushwalk or for a swim. Our volunteers do a fantastic job, but if they had it their way they would rather not be called to so many incidents.
“Often the outcomes can be detrimental to our volunteers and we do not like to put them in that position.”
Couple rescued: emergency services rescued tourists who called for help after finding themselves stuck near a ledge at Cape Woolamai on Sunday. Photo: Facebook.
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Posted by Tayla Kershaw on Jan 26 2016. Filed under News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry
