On January 15, 1990, at approximately 7:40 PM, the London Bridge natural arch, a prominent landmark on Victoria's Great Ocean Road, collapsed. Two individuals, Kelli Bryers and David Darrington, were on the structure moments before its partial disintegration, resulting in them being stranded on a newly formed 50-meter-high limestone island. A third companion remained in a vehicle on the mainland.
Darrington had remarked on the bridge's stability just prior to the event. He observed a small rock piece detach, then heard a crack as the first arch segment gave way. Darrington captured a photograph of the collapse. Peter Moate, 16, also witnessed the incident from a nearby viewing point and photographed the subsequent water plume, which reached 200 meters in height. Moate's photos were later sold to The Warrnambool Standard. Reports indicated that a busload of 30 tourists had been on the archway for a photograph only 30 minutes before the collapse.
Local SES volunteer Dave McKenzie was notified of the collapse and the trapped individuals. The Port Campbell Cliff Rescue Squad, a local volunteer group formed 30 years earlier after a 1958 drowning incident at Beacon Steps, was activated. Disbelief was a common initial reaction among rescue team members upon receiving the news. Margaret McKenzie, managing a local motor inn, contacted squad members and frequently had to confirm the severity of the situation.
Rescue crews determined that their existing equipment and training were insufficient to safely cross the newly formed ocean passage, particularly given strong winds and rough seas. Dave McKenzie stated that the situation exceeded their operational capabilities. A helicopter was requested and arrived approximately three hours later. During this period, a crowd gathered on the mainland, providing visibility and some comfort to Bryers and Darrington, who were exposed to cold conditions on the island. The helicopter successfully extracted Bryers first, followed by Darrington. Their safe retrieval was met with applause from the assembled crowd.
Kelli Bryers later expressed gratitude for the local rescue team's presence and communication during the three-hour wait, crediting them with providing comfort and maintaining morale. The Port Campbell SES has since acquired updated equipment and training, continuing to conduct high-angle rescues in the region.