Rescue 22 - Cliff Top Emergency

[Grahame Hutchison]

This afternoon a paraglider flying off south Mona Vale headland came to grief on the cliff face and required rescue by the NSW Ambulance helicopter. One of the crew from Rescue 22 was winched down from the hovering chopper and then hoisted the injured paraglider to the clifftop. Waiting ambulance and fire brigade crews helped to load the patient into an ambulance for the 100 meter trip to Mona Vale hospital helipad and the waiting chopper (the cliff top location was sloping ground making it difficult for the Bell 412 to land). Once stabilized in the chopper it then departed in the direction of Royal North Shore hospital.

A crewman onbaord Rescue 22 guides the winch operation.


The paraglider winched to the clifftop and waiting rescue crews.


Rescue personnel load the injured paraglider into the waiting ambulance.


The sloping ground on the cliff top made it difficult to land so the patient was transported by ambulance to the nearby hospital helipad.


The clifftop scene above Mona Vale beach. We watch these paragliders every day from our home.


Viewed from the northern headland, the accident site is marked in red at the centre top of the image, and Mona Vale hospital and the
heilpad are at the top right.


Safely on board VH-EPH the crew prepare to depart.


Rescue 22 did a 180 degree hover turn directly above the helipad as there was a fairly strong onshore wind to deal with.


Climbing out to the north east through the trees surrounding Mona Vale golf course and then a right turn towards Royal North Shore.


Rescue 22 returned to Mona Vale hospital again at 1830 and then called Sydney Radar on 125.8 Mhz to say they were "taxiing" at the
helipad, and would depart for a run down Victor 1.

[Jayden Laing]

Nice report Grahame. Love to watch & hear the Bell 412 in action

[Peter D]

So is VH-EPH based out of Bankstown?