Woman, 60, rescued from Goldfields cave after 12 hour ordeal
A woman who spent the night trapped in a cave system in Western Australia’s remote Goldfields region has been rescued.
The 60-year-old man fell about 8 meters underground while walking with his partner near Lake Wells, about 1,200 kilometers northeast of Perth, on Friday afternoon.
Emergency services were called into action after his partner raised the alarm at around 5pm.
He was removed from the system with injuries shortly after 5.30am on Saturday after working through the night to bring specialized rescue equipment to the remote scene.
He was later taken to Laverton Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
Laverton Police Officer in Charge Senior Sergeant Brendan Grogan said the woman’s partner was able to provide her with supplies, including first aid, before emergency services arrived, highlighting the importance of being well prepared.
“This was a team effort at its finest. Each agency played a vital role in bringing this woman to safety,” he said.
“It also reinforces the importance of being well prepared, as does the woman and her partner, and serves as a reminder of how quickly a perfect day spent outdoors can turn into a potentially life-threatening emergency.”
Murray McBride, acting chief of the Department of Fire and Emergency Services for the Goldfields-Midlands region, said it was a relief when crews got him out and placed him in the care of paramedics.
He described the rescue as “difficult” and required a lot of skill in vertical rescue.
