Man survives cliff plunge, breaks legs

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Man survives cliff plunge, breaks legs

3News NZ

The man had to be winched off the cliff by the Tauranga Rescue Helicopter and was transported to Whakatane Hospital

The man had to be winched off the cliff by the Tauranga Rescue Helicopter and was transported to Whakatane Hospital

By 3 News online staff

A man has survived a 150m drop off a cliff on the East Cape.

The 21-year-old forestry worker was planting pines atop a cliff near Hawai, 30km east of Opotiki, around midday when he fell partway down.

The man had to be winched off the cliff by the Tauranga Rescue Helicopter and was transported to Whakatane Hospital.

He broke both his legs and his collar bone.

“I estimate he would have fallen 150m down the hill,” says Barry Hennessy of Opotiki Fire Brigade. “He has free-fallen 10m into a creek with basically vertical sides and ended up on probably the only flat place in the creek, between two waterfalls, so it was a very tricky spot – very tricky rescue.”

Tauranga rescue pilot Art Kawalski, who transported the man, said he was in bad shape.  

“[He was in] pretty bad pain – but not as bad as he could’ve been,” he says.

The man is in a serious but stable condition in hospital.

3 News

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Comments

10/07/2012 10:26:12 p.m.

ZL2SKY wrote:

As both my wife and daughter have written below, many many thanks to all who helped rescue our nephew. As a provider of communications for civil defense and search and rescue I appreciate what efforts are put in to retrieve someone in a situation like this and my heart felt warmth goes out to all. Here's hoping that he makes a speedy recovery and thank also to all his work mates. All of those involved in his rescue are legends.

10/07/2012 9:57:06 p.m.

A J M C wrote:

Thank you kingsley, it wasn't until I found out earlier today, this vibrant young man is actually a close friend and my older cousin, I agree he is very lucky and i'm thankful to his workmates for their quick thinking and to the rescue services for doing everything they could to save my cousin. Truly thank you on behalf of our family for doing you jobs and doing it well, I know that I will be eternally grateful, thank you again

10/07/2012 9:17:21 p.m.

Anne wrote:

Many thanks to all who assisted in the rescue of my nephew, in this accident. You are all wonderful.

10/07/2012 1:03:50 p.m.

Judith Partridge wrote:

Very proud of this young mans workmates, If it wasn't for there quick thinking and actions this could have had a totally different outcome.

10/07/2012 4:45:31 a.m.

kingsley iyitor wrote:

God is awesome that a vibrant young survived a fall from that high level as far as is not his time death cannot snuff out life out of him still bless God he is awesome.