FALL DOWN CLIFF

Evening Post, Volume CXXVII, Issue 3, 5 January 1939, Page 10

FALL DOWN CLIFF

YOUTH'S DIFFICULT RESCUE

(From "The hosts. Representative.)

SYDNEY, December 30.

It will be a long time before Eric Welch, 19, will forget his 1938 Christmas. While hiking with three other youths in the rugged and precipitous Shoalhaven Valley, near Tallong, he lost his footing and fell 60 feet down a cliff face. He had an extraordinary escape from serious injuries but suffered abrasions to the arms, face, and head. A party of six that rescued him were in a state of exhaustion after they had toiled for three hours in carrying him on a stretcher up the precipice and three miles to a .waiting ambulance.

The four youths were picking their way in single file along the side of a cliff when Welch lost his footing. He tried to catch hold of a rock as he slipped, but his horrified companions saw him fall over the edge, hurtle down the cliff face, and land near some rocks. Two of them started to climb down. The third went for help. He reached Tallong and the rescue party of six was organised. Two ambulance men carried a light stretcher down the cliff. Welch was placed on it and the hazardous task of carrying him up began.

The track was so narrow that, only one man could stand at. each end of the stretcher. The ambulance officers, two policemen, and two Tallong residents took turns "in carrying the stretcher. So dangerous was . the ascent, and such a severe tax was placed on the strength of the men, that it took three hours to carry Welch to the ambulance, which had been left about three miles away, The rescuers frequently lost their footing, and were in constant danger of slipping and plunging into the valley again. ,