*** Cave Rescue Exercise switches to Genuine Rescue Mode ***


Date:   Tue, 22 Apr 1997 23:05:12 +1000 (EST)
From:   Alan Sheehan <als@ix.net.au>

Last weekend we held our annual Cave Rescue Exercise at Tuglow Caves. 38
personnel from various services and units were represented.

At about 4pm, we received a call to turn to an authentic rescue at Kalang
Falls in Kanangra Boyd National Park. An abseiler had fallen on the fourth
pitch. Key personnel were called out of the cave and the exercise aborted
(one victim out, the other about to be raised). A rapid response team of
four responded to Kanangra, backed up by another team of four, with
potentially all personnel at the exercise available if required.

The Westpac Rescue helicopter also responded and was able to rescue the
injured canyoner and the woman accomplice who stayed with him all day. As
fog closed in the helicopter was unable to safely retrieve the remaining
medical staff in the canyon by 8:00pm. The medical staff were equipped with
survival gear and spent the night in the canyon before being lifted out by
the chopper early Sunday morning.

It is understood the man has since died as a result of severe head injuries
suffered after stumbling and falling on steep ground approaching a small
cliff (below the fourth abseil). He was not wearing a rock hat.


Alan Sheehan
Oberon State Emergency Service, NSW, Australia
Oberon Mole Patrol http://www.ix.net.au/~als/

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