Chockstone Forum

      Sponsored By
      ROCK
   HARDWARE

Chockstone Photography

Australian Landscape Prints

Chockstone Forum - General Discussion

General Climbing Discussion

Topic Date User

Rock climbing, police and rescue today 22-Apr-2017 At 11:53:48 PM Jezlevett

Message

I was at diamond bay climbing with a few friends today.

Out of no where this guy extremely drunk comes limping from the rocks below. He was half wet as well. He couldnt stand and we adviced him not to attempt the climb out. Before we have a chance to get help there are 20+ rescue ppl. Someone else called them in. Now he's not seriously injured. But has twisted his ankle. He is lying on the ground next to the exit ladder. I go out to go up and tell the rescue crew the situation and this is where it gets weird...

I'm told straight away that I'm not allowed to go back down because it's too dangerous by the commander via the police? But I'm allowed to hang around the cliff face edge. Am I in my rights to go back down? Can police stop me? No rescue is down there.

Mean while my 2 relatively new climbing mates are down there having no clue what the rescuers are doing as the rescuers decide the scramble down is too risky to take? Okay fair enough but between them setting up their alternative rapell off a single fence post (wtf) for an hour no one is communicating to my mates or the injured drunk guy except my self who is able to wonder the cliff edge and visually talk to them while the other rescuers don't dare go close to the edge. Not one single time did they communicate directly until they absiels down an 1hr later. I'm not kidding (wtf).

Now for the super annoying bit. I tell the commander of the operation if my mate has to carry up my bag aswell as hers on the exit it will add an additional Risk to her life, and I should be allowed to go down to help her. But I'm denied as I am I told I could fall and die. And so she climbs up with both bags at the same time. Remember she is a relative new climber.

Seems there is some room for improvement. Just saying.

Keen to here others thoughts and experiences.

End of rant.