Woman Rescued After Seven-Hour Ordeal in Australia's Hunter Valley
A 23-year-old woman, Matilda Campbell, found herself in a perilous situation while hiking in the Hunter Valley region of Australia. On October 12, during a hike with friends near Laguna, she dropped her smartphone between two rocks. In an attempt to retrieve it, she slipped and fell three meters into a crevice, becoming trapped upside down for seven hours.
The incident highlights the risks associated with hiking in remote areas, particularly where mobile reception is limited. After realizing her predicament, her friends attempted to free her for an hour before deciding to call emergency services. Rescuers were dispatched to the scene, arriving approximately an hour later.
Complicated Rescue Operation
The rescue operation proved to be highly complicated, involving multiple emergency services including police, ambulance, and firefighters. Rescuers had to remove seven boulders weighing between 80 to 500 kilograms to reach Matilda. To ensure her safety during the rescue, a wooden framework was constructed above her to prevent any falling rocks.
After six hours of intense work, the team managed to access her feet, but the final extraction took an additional hour as they navigated her through a tight 'S' shaped curve. Remarkably, Matilda emerged with only minor injuries, including scratches and bruises, though she did suffer a fractured vertebra.
Peter Watts, a paramedic involved in the rescue, expressed his admiration for Matilda's composure throughout the ordeal, stating, "In my ten years as a paramedic, I have never encountered a job like this; it was challenging but incredibly rewarding." Matilda later thanked the rescue team on social media, lamenting the loss of her phone but grateful for her safety.
