These images show how two climbers became stuck perched on top of a rock called the ‘Totem Pole’ in Tasmania after their ropes became tangled and they had to be rescued.
The incident took place at the popular 60-metre (197-foot) high ‘Totem Pole’ sea stack in the Tasman National Park, in Tasmania, Australia, on 12th February.
The police said that the climbers became stuck due to high winds that caused their ropes to become tangled.
The Tasmania Police said in a statement on 13th February: “Two climbers were rescued from the top of the Totem Pole at Cape Hauy on the Tasman Peninsula overnight.”
Senior Constable Callum Herbert from Police Search and Rescue is quoted as saying: “About 6pm last night, Police Search and Rescue were notified that two climbers had become stuck at the top of a feature known as the Totem Pole at Cape Hauy on the Tasman Peninsula.”
He added: “The climbers reported that due to high winds, their ropes had become entangled and they were unable to reach safety.
“Initial attempts to rescue the climbers by helicopter with deployment of a vertical rescue team was aborted due to high winds.
“In partnership with the Climbing Club of Tasmania Vertical Rescue Team, members of Police Search and Rescue and Ambulance Tasmania attempted to gain access to the Totem Pole via nearby cliffs using a police vessel, this was also unsuccessful due to a significant and dangerous swell.”
The officer continued: “About 11:30pm, rescue teams departed from Fortescue Bay on foot and found the climbers at the top of the Totem Pole.
“Members from the Climbing Club of Tasmania Vertical Rescue Team conducted a complicated vertical rescue of the two climbers. This involved members of the club partially scaling the Totem Pole in wet, dark and windy conditions.
“After communication and contact was made with the climbers they were secured to rescue ropes, moved to cliffs on the mainland and as dawn broke they were hauled approximately 50 metres to safety.”
The climbers, whose names and ages were not revealed, were treated at the scene by a wilderness paramedic.
The duo were cold, hungry and tired but thankfully uninjured.
The statement said: “The climbers were from interstate and had reasonable climbing experience.
“This was a particularly complicated rescue from a sheer sided standing rock 60 metres in the air. It was done at night in cold, wet and windy conditions by a team of dedicated volunteers and they have ours and the climbers heartfelt thanks.”
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Story By: Joseph Golder, Sub-Editor: Joseph Golder, Agency: Newsflash
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