Full Breakdown
Seven Trapped on Durras Cliff Rescued After Three-Hour Vertical Operation
4/24/2026, 1:22:54 PM
The Rescue
The rescue took place Sunday morning at North Head campground south of Durras, New South Wales. Four adults and three children walking the cliff base were cut off by a rising tide and climbed onto a ledge about 10 metres above the sea as waves reached 16 feet. A Westpac Rescue Helicopter was withdrawn because its rotorwash could have pushed the victims into the water. Eurobodalla SES set up an Arizona Vortex frame, lowered a 40-metre rope and hoisted each person to safety in three hours. All seven were recovered with scrapes.
Background and Responding Agencies
The New South Wales State Emergency Service is an agency that handles coastal incidents. The rescue was led by Eurobodalla SES commander Peter Collins, with assistance from the Batemans Bay and Moruya SES units. Police took the 9 a.m. call and coordinated the response. The Westpac Rescue Helicopter was dispatched but withdrawn after safety assessments deemed its rotorwash unsafe.
Timeline and Technical Details
- 09:00 a.m.: Family called police.
- 09:00–11:30 a.m.: Police summoned Westpac Helicopter, which was later stood down.
- ?11:30 a.m.: Eurobodalla SES arrived, set up an Arizona Vortex frame and lowered a rope 40 metres.
- 11:30 a.m.–?14:30 p.m.: Victims were hoisted one by one.
- ?14:30 p.m.: All seven (four adults, three children) reached safety; scrapes were treated.
The ledge was about 10 metres above water; waves were about 16 feet.
Official Statements and Impact
SES commander Peter Collins said the rising tide could have swept the group off the cliff and called the operation the largest rescue he had overseen. He noted the victims were “white-knuckled” during extraction but were “very glad to get to the top.” NSW SES units posted that the family were “tired and cold, but in good spirits.” Officials said the incident underscores the danger of wet rock edges and the essential role of volunteer responders in coastal safety.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
All sources agree on the number of people rescued, wave height and timeline; no contradictory figures were found. Details such as the exact number of rescuers and the precise time the helicopter arrived were not disclosed.
Verbatim Quotes
- “If the waves had come up any higher and washed them off, that's the worst,” — Pete Collins, NSW State Emergency Service commander
- “They were very white-knuckled and hanging on for dear life.” — Peter Collins, SES commander
- “The chopper would have just blown them off the cliff face.” — Peter Collins
- “I think it was the biggest rescue I have been involved it.” — Peter Collins
- “They were so close to the waves breaking at the bottom, and I thought, gosh, if a huge wave comes in, it’s going to wash them straight off, and they’d be gone.” — Peter Collins
Next Steps
SES officials have urged the public to avoid wet rock edges and to check tide forecasts before coastal walks. The incident will be incorporated into future vertical-rescue training drills.