Australian woman rescued after seven-hour ordeal in Hunter Valley
Hunter Valley rescue: woman trapped for seven hours between boulders
On October 12, in Australia’s Hunter Valley region, Matilda Campbell’s adventurous outing turned perilous. The 23-year-old became trapped upside down in a tight space between two boulders after dropping her phone while taking photos.
The New South Wales Ambulance service shared details on Monday via Instagram about her unusual predicament, describing it as being “between a rock and a hard place.” Photos of the incident were posted on their Instagram account.
The rescue operation, which took seven hours, involved extricating her from a three-metre (10-foot) crevice. Campbell later posted a light-hearted message on Facebook, showing her feet wedged between the rocks and jokingly saying, “Not my feet on display like that,” accompanied by a laughing emoji. She added humorously, “No more rock exploration for me for a while.”
Matilda Campbell spent seven hours hanging upside down as emergency responders worked to free her after she was wedged between two boulders in the Hunter Valley.
Captain of the Cessnock Volunteer Rescue Association Paul Hampton joins us. pic.twitter.com/zgofvq7JdR
— The Project (@theprojecttv) October 23, 2024
Peter Watts, the rescue paramedic, noted that this was a unique experience in his ten-year career. Friends of Campbell had to hike to find better phone reception to call emergency services after failing to free her themselves.
Watts commended the rescue team for their collaboration, saying, “We all worked incredibly well together to achieve a good outcome for the patient.” The team built a hardwood frame for stability and removed heavy boulders to create a safe access point.
After gaining access to her feet, rescuers faced the challenge of guiding her through a tight “S” bend, which took over an hour. A specialized winch was used to move a 500-kilogram (1,100-pound) boulder.
PHOTO STORY: Woman Trapped Upside Down Between Rocks For 7 Hours In Australia
A woman in Australia’s Hunter Valley was trapped upside down between two large boulders for seven hours after attempting to retrieve her dropped phone.
Read more: https://t.co/8xsUQgATRQ pic.twitter.com/5MphIbiMSq
— LEADERSHIP NEWS (@LeadershipNGA) October 22, 2024
Throughout the ordeal, Campbell remained calm and cooperative. Watts mentioned, “Anything we asked her to do, she was able to do to help us get her out.” She was eventually freed with only minor scratches and bruises, although her phone was left behind in the crevice.
What Other Media Are Saying
- The Guardian reports a woman, 23, trapped upside down between boulders for seven hours after trying to retrieve her phone in rural NSW, emphasizing the challenging rescue operation and minor injuries sustained.(read more)
- Global News reports on an Australian woman, Matilda Campbell, stuck upside down between boulders for seven hours while trying to retrieve her phone, emphasizing her resilience and the challenging rescue operation.(read more)
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some common questions asked about this news
What happened to Matilda Campbell in Hunter Valley?
She got trapped upside down between two boulders while taking photos.
How long did the rescue operation take?
The rescue operation took seven hours.
What was used to move the heavy boulder?
A specialized winch was used.
How did Campbell’s friends call for help?
They hiked to find better phone reception.
What injuries did Campbell sustain?
She had only minor scratches and bruises.
