www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/abseiler-left-dangling-after-failing-to-pack-enough-rope-20111202-1o9r6.html


Abseiler left dangling after failing to pack enough rope
Written by Jane Lee
December 2, 2011 - 7:09AM

A thrill seeker had be rescued from a cliff in southern Victoria after abseiling with ropes that were too short.

The man, believed to be about 30 years old, ran out of rope on his way down the sheer cliff at Cape Paterson, near Wonthaggi, and was left dangling for close to an hour until help arrived.

The man called triple-0 from his mobile phone about 6.30pm.

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''He told us that he is experienced at abseiling, but for some reason he got his calculations wrong and found that the rope he was using didn't go all the way to the bottom,'' paramedic Ben Meadley said of the man's ordeal.

''So, he was left with only one option - to climb back up. The only problem was that he couldn't get any footing on the cliff to enable him to climb back up."

The man was sore from clinging to the ropes and cold from the wind but otherwise unharmed when rescue workers arrived to winch him back to safety.

''He was suffering hand cramps, having been hanging there for about 40 minutes, so he may not have been able to hold on if he had remained there any longer,'' Mr Meadley said.

Paramedics flew to the man's rescue on an air ambulance helicopter.





A very lucky boy! Was he doing this solo!?

Thinking about it... the tail of the rope must have been free hanging. Once you realise you won't make it down, wouldn't you just lock off, pull the rope back up, and tie yourself off, and hang and wait... rather than get hand cramps?

[b must have been free hanging. Once you realise you won't make it down, wouldn't you just lock off, pull the rope back up, and tie yourself off, and hang and wait... rather than get hand cramps?

Yeah if he had enough tail left he could have tied some foot loops and stood in his rope to Simo doesnt sound to experienced to me

this bloke must be either brain dead, or we are not being told the full story,

prussiking isnt that hard! (as long as you are carrying the ropes to do it!)

correction- yes its hard work after a while- and slow going, but you will get there eventually.
years ago, I prussiked about 50m up us a training exercise with our scouts.
It just took a bit of perseverance.

Agree, free climbing is nuts. But they would know their stuff. They would be the top 3%.

sn said...

this bloke must be either brain dead, or we are not being told the full story,

prussiking isnt that hard! (as long as you are carrying the ropes to do it!)

correction- yes its hard work after a while- and slow going, but you will get there eventually.
years ago, I prussiked about 50m up us a training exercise with our scouts.
It just took a bit of perseverance.

Why self rescue when a rescue helicopter is a telephone call away?

Best thing is it's free!!

Thanks guys for keeping this post positive and fun.

Dave, that pics is certifiably nuts! I'll google that more later. I'll grow a nut and add it to the bucket list!

Awesome video too^. He's the leader of the Certified Nuts Team!