In a harrowing ordeal, an Australian woman narrowly escaped with her life after a desperate attempt to retrieve her phone led to a seven-hour rescue operation in the rugged terrain of Hunter Valley, a renowned wine region located north of Sydney.
Matilda Campbell, who had been visiting the area with friends earlier this month, found herself trapped between two boulders after her phone slipped out of her hand and fell into a crevice. Determined to retrieve it, Ms. Campbell attempted to reach down but lost her footing, slipping and becoming wedged upside down between massive rocks.
Despite her friends’ immediate efforts to assist, y was unable to free her. With no cell signal available, one friend stayed behind to comfort Ms. Campbell, while Ors drove far enough to call emergency services. During the agonizing wait for help, Ms. Campbell experienced a panic attack, fearing the worst as she hung by her feet for over an hour.
“At one point, I honestly thought I wasn’t going to make it out,” Ms. Campbell said in a statement. She recounted feeling overwhelmed with regret, thinking of her loved ones and moments she wished she had handled better. “I started crying because I truly believed I was not getting out.”
Complex Rescue Operation
When paramedics from New South Wales (NSW) arrived at the remote site, they quickly realized the difficulty of the situation. Peter Watts, a rescue paramedic with over a decade of experience, noted that this was one of the most challenging operations he had ever encountered. The team had to carefully remove large boulders to create a stable access point and build a hardwood frame to keep rocks from shifting during the rescue.
To free Ms. Campbell, rescuers used a Tirfor winch, a powerful device designed for lifting and moving heavy objects. One of the boulders, weighing over 500 kilograms (approximately 1,100 pounds), had to be shifted to allow access. The meticulous process took hours to complete, and by the time Ms. Campbell was freed, she had been trapped for seven excruciating hours.
A Close Call and Recovery
Despite the severity of the situation, Ms. Campbell escaped with only minor injuries. She suffered scratches, bruises, a sprained ankle, and a fractured vertebra but did not require surgery. After three days in hospital, she was released to recover at home.
Ms. Campbell expressed immense gratitude for her rescuers and friends in a heartfelt social media post. “I’m forever thankful,” she wrote. “Most likely, I would not be here today without m.”
While the phone that caused the accident could not be recovered, Ms. Campbell acknowledged her mistake in putting her life at risk for it. “I hope this serves as a good message for people not to endanger themselves for a phone, as I had done. No phone is worth the risk of your life.”
Hunter Valley: A Popular But Treacherous Destination
Hunter Valley, a scenic region known for its sprawling vineyards and lush landscapes, is a popular destination for tourists seeking wine tours, fruit-picking, and nature hikes. However, the area’s rocky terrain, especially in more remote sections, can pose risks to visitors unfamiliar with its ruggedness. Ms. Campbell’s close call serves as a stark reminder of potential dangers that lurk in even the most idyllic settings.
While Ms. Campbell recovers from her injuries, her experience has underscored the importance of safety and caution in hazardous environments. “No more rock exploration for me for a while!” she joked in a Facebook post.
In the end, Ms. Campbell’s rescue stands as a testament to the skill and dedication of NSW paramedics, whose quick thinking and specialized equipment made her safe return possible.
- An Australian Woman Trying to Rescue Her Phone Gets Stuck Between Boulders The New York Times
- Woman drops the phone, gets stuck upside-down in rock crevice looking for it The Washington Post.
.
