Cessnock District Rescue Squad members played a vital role in the miraculous survival of a Newcastle teen who fell down a cliff in the Watagans on Saturday.
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Jordan Ashton, 17, was camping with friends on Saturday night when they stumbled upon a dance party.
Not having enough money for the cover charge, the group tried to find an alternative point of entry but in the darkness, Jordan fell 80 metres down a cliff.
His friends alerted emergency services, and the rescue squad responded to a call for assistance around 11.30pm Saturday.
They set up vertical rescue systems and sent a member down to the bottom. Aided by torch light rescue squad members located Jordan on the floor below the cliff and in a conscious state.
He had suffered a variety of injuries from shoulder dislocation to possible fractures, possible internal injuries and some small cuts and bruises.
Rescue squad spokesperson Chris Prince said squad members and paramedics were surprised at how lucky the boy was.
“From falling 80 metres or so off a cliff face and through trees, it’s amazing the boy survived his fall with the injuries he sustained,” he said.
Rescue squad members then began the arduous task of stabilising the youth and extracting him from his position on the forest floor.
With the assistance of specialist NSW Ambulance paramedics, the boy was stabilised and treated while a retrieval plan was worked out.
“The Westpac Rescue Helicopter was flying overhead and it was decided the best option was to attempt to winch in NSW Ambulance doctors to further treat the youth and then winch him out, but due to the surrounding trees and vegetation this was not possible,” Mr. Prince said.
Chainsaws were lowered in to clear vegetation and trees to make a safe clearing for the helicopter to complete its winch operation.
Squad members worked tirelessly through the cold night to remove what they could to make a safe area for the helicopter.
Jordan was flown to hospital in a serious condition and is expected to make a full recovery.
After the retrieval operation, rescue personnel then had to remove the squad members that were below and all the equipment that was used to treat Jordan.
Mr. Prince said it was a long and exhausting task that lasted around 13 hours.
And, it was the second time in less than 12 hours that the squad’s specialist vertical rescue skills were required.
Around 2.20pm Saturday, the squad responded to reports of a vehicle on the edge of a cliff at Owens Gap, west of Scone.
Once police were on the scene all persons were out of the vehicle and the squad was not required.
But these two incidents highlighted the importance of the rescue squad’s ability to continue to buy such life-saving equipment – which is not possible without donations from the community and local businesses.
Mr. Prince said the equipment needs to be kept up to date and maintained due to the high risk of incidents that can occur in the nearby geographical landscape.
He said the squad would like to thank its current business sponsors and always welcomes more and also donations from community groups, individuals and organisations.
A charity ball will be held for the rescue squad at Cessnock Leagues Club on Saturday, September 13.
Tickets are $85 per person which includes a three-course meal, live entertainment, auctions and raffles – with all money raised to help the squad buy life-saving equipment.
Tickets are available at the Leagues Club on 4993 2655.
