In a remarkable incident that occurred earlier this month in Australia’s Hunter Valley, a 23-year-old woman spent seven hours trapped upside down in a crevice between boulders while trying to retrieve her lost phone. The woman and her friends were walking on private property in Laguna, a rural area located approximately 120 kilometers from Sydney, when she dropped her phone between two large rocks. In her attempt to recover it, she slipped face-first into a 3-meter deep gap, making her impossible to reach. As rescue efforts began, her friends were forced to leave her side to seek help due to a lack of phone signal.
New South Wales (NSW) ambulance specialist rescue paramedic Peter Watts was among the first responders to arrive at the scene. Upon discovering the woman’s situation, he noted that it was unlike any incident he had encountered in his training, which covered various types of rescue operations. The only visible sign of her presence was the soles of her feet protruding from the narrow gap. Her position posed considerable challenges, compounded by the challenging lay of the land, as the crevice was situated along an overgrown track that was inaccessible to off-road vehicles.
Rescue teams from police, ambulance, and fire services quickly organized a strategy to free the woman, who was wedged down a chute and unable to move. For the safety of the woman and the rescuers, the team advised her to remain still to avoid slipping deeper into the crevice. The precarious nature of the operation was noted, as every rock removed posed a risk of potentially causing further harm to the woman. Rescue workers had to remove six large boulders before they could physically reach her feet, emphasizing the delicate balance of removing debris while ensuring her safety during the process.
Throughout the ordeal, the woman exhibited remarkable calm and composure, which was commendable given her uncomfortable position. However, as hours passed, concerns grew about her wellbeing due to the pressures of being upside down for an extended period. Rescuers were especially worried about the possibility of her limbs suffering from poor circulation. Eventually, after several hours of meticulous work, they managed to access one of her feet before proceeding to free the other.
Rescuers faced specific challenges, including the last boulder, which weighed around 500 kilograms. They utilized a winch and timber supports to maneuver it safely away from the gap before moving on to extricate the woman. Her body had to be maneuvered carefully, as the slope of the chute did not allow for a direct vertical pull. The rescuers employed strategic movements to shift her hips and legs into a position conducive for extraction, allowing them to navigate her out of the crevice with precision.
Finally, after seven grueling hours, the rescue team successfully freed her around 4:30 p.m. Relieved but physically exhausted, the woman could not immediately stand due to the blood rushing to her head and the lack of circulation in her legs. Fortunately, she sustained only minor injuries, including scratches and bruises, and was taken to the hospital for observation. Despite the ordeal, her phone remained trapped between the rocks, marking a bittersweet end to a harrowing experience, but the physical toll on her was minimal, considering the circumstances.