EMERGENCY services, including Country Fire Authority (CFA) members from Hamilton, were called to the Grampians Peak Trail at Hollow Mountain on Tuesday to assist in the rescue of an injured climber.

It is believed the male climber fell from a height of 15 metres and landed in a pit, resulting in serious injuries.

Due to the severity of the incident and the patient’s injuries, volunteer crews from across the region were activated in an effort to reach the patient as soon as possible.

Alongside the ground crews, high-angle rescue teams were deployed from Victoria State Emergency Service (VICSES) Ararat, Horsham, and Stawell Units, alongside CFA members from Laharum and Hamilton, as well as personnel from Ambulance Victoria (AV), Fire Rescue Victoria, and Victoria Police.

After setting up a staging area at the car park, volunteer crews climbed the trail terrain for over an hour to reach the patient, starting out on a track which then gave way to steep, rutted terrain and loose chippings.

Volunteer crews worked with paramedics on scene to extricate the patient from the pit using a system of ropes, and a stretcher, before safely transporting the patient past the 15 metres of sheer rock from which he had fallen using an air ambulance.

An AV spokesperson said they were notified of the incident at approximately 2.35pm, with paramedics deployed to assist with the rescue operation.

“A man in his 30’s was airlifted to the Royal Melbourne Hospital in a stable condition, with serious upper and lower body injuries,” the spokesperson said.

Hamilton Fire Brigade captain, Malcom Anderson said local members received notification of the incident at approximately 3pm and travelled to Hollow Mountain to assist with extricating the male.

“We sent six members up who responded to the rescue which was part of a multi-agency response for the climber who had fallen,” he said.

“Two were trained in high angle rescue, two in steep angle rescue, plus the other two were support members.

“We met up with the other crews from Fire Rescue Victoria, SES, Victoria Police, AV, and a representative from National Parks because it was their land.

“It was roughly a 1.5km walk in to the casualty.

“Our members assisted the other agencies in gaining access to the casualty and then worked together with the other agencies to help remove that individual … we were part of a fairly big team.”

VICSES Incident Commander, Jordan Bush said the multi-agency response at Laharum was just one example of Victorian emergency service personnel working together, and around the clock, to protect and save lives.

“Our emergency services work incredibly well together to ensure community safety, whether it is their local community or the broader Victorian community,” he said.

Commander Bush said the incident acts as another reminder for people looking to venture into the great outdoors to plan ahead and consider all relevant factors before embarking on their journey.

“With the warmer weather, we hope that this incident is a timely reminder to ensure that climbers and hikers should prepare for the task they are undertaking,” he said.

“Research the area before you go, make sure you communicate your plans with a friend or family or take someone with you, and know your risks.”

“In this rescue, the patient had friends who played a significant part in getting him out safely, and who assisted emergency services throughout the incident.”

VICSES also encourages anyone wanting to go hiking or climbing to know their limitations, wear appropriate clothing and shoes, have plenty of food and water, carry a communication device, pack a map and compass and become familiar with common location names as well as emergency markers along the track.

Those visiting national parks or walking tracks can check closures by visiting parkweb.vic.gov.au

Search and rescue operations require, on average, eight VICSES volunteers in three vehicles, working for around four hours, amounting to thirty-two hours of volunteer time for each rescue.

This does not include the work undertaken by Parks Victoria, Ambulance Victoria, and Victoria Police Search and Rescue personnel.