Tourist rescued from Karijini’s Joffre Gorge

Emergency services performed a vertical rope rescue to successfully free an injured man from a gorge in Karijini National Park yesterday.

Shortly before 10am, the 60-year-old tourist, from New South Wales, was walking on the designated path into Joffre Gorge with his wife when he slipped and fell about 6m.

Tom Price police, local SES volunteers, Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions rangers and St John’s Ambulance officers attended the scene, and the SES scaled the cliff using ropes to rescue the man after his injuries were deemed too serious for him to be carried out.

He was conveyed to Tom Price Hospital with a serious knee injury, where he is currently in a stable condition.

Tom Price police officer-in-charge Sergeant Tony Di Giuseppe said the rescue had gone smoothly.

“We are pleased with the cooperation shown by the joint coordinated response team and the assistance provided by all agencies here to achieve a successful outcome,” he said.

The incident is believed to be the eighth significant rescue in Karijini so far this year.