Family Rescued from Cliff After Being Trapped by Rising Tides

A family of seven, including three children, was rescued from a cliff on Australia's east coast after becoming trapped by rising tides during a morning beach walk. The rescue operation, which lasted over three hours, involved volunteer emergency responders using specialized equipment.

Incident Details

The group was walking on a beach when the tide rose, with waves reported to be up to 16 feet high approaching them. The individuals climbed onto a cliff ledge for safety and used their phones to call police for assistance.

"If the waves had washed the group off the cliff, that would have been the worst outcome."

Rescue Operation

First responders, including the New South Wales State Emergency Service, initially considered a helicopter rescue but deemed it unsafe due to the risk of the helicopter's downdraft pushing the group into the water.

Rescuers instead conducted a vertical rescue using ropes and a device called the Arizona vortex, which prevented the ropes from being damaged by sharp rock edges at the cliff top.

Rescuers were lowered down the cliff to retrieve each family member one by one from a height of approximately 40 meters. The rescue began with the youngest family member. The operation was conducted by unpaid volunteer rescue workers, who had previously practiced for similar scenarios. The rescue took over three hours to complete.

"Without the Arizona vortex device, dragging ropes over the cliff edge would have damaged them due to sharp rocks."

Statements

Pete Collins, commander of local emergency services, stated that if the waves had washed the group off the cliff, that would have been the worst outcome. He also noted that without the Arizona vortex device, dragging ropes over the cliff edge would have damaged them due to sharp rocks. Collins described the family as relieved to reach the top.