A woman has been rescued after falling in the Blue Mountains yesterday, NSW Police say.
About 4pm today, a 58-year-old Dutch tourist has fallen and injured herself while on a bush walk in the Grand Canyon at Blackheath, which is accessed by the Evans Lookout.
Another bush walker on the trail assisted and walked 40 minutes back to the Evans Lookout car park to contact emergency services.
A tour operator on the trail also came across the woman and her family and activated a portable locator beacon (PLB) which advised the Australian Search & Rescue headquarters in Canberra of the incident.
Due to smoke from nearby back burning, a multi-agency rescue effort was activated with Blue Mountains Police, Police Rescue, NSW Ambulance Special Operations, Rural Fire Service and SES personnel attending.
The woman was located by emergency services about 6pm, who then carried her out of the canyon, reaching the Evans Lookout car park at 9.15pm.
The woman was treated by NSW Ambulance Paramedics for two broken bones in her lower leg before being taken to Nepean Hospital where she remains in a stable condition.
The incident has prompted police to remind bushwalkers to plan their journeys ahead of time, ensure sufficient food, water and warm clothing are always taken, and to stay put and remain together when emergency services have been contacted in the case of an emergency.
Anyone entering the bush – even for a short walk – is reminded to think before you TREK.
T – Take adequate supplies of food, water, navigation and first aid equipment.
R – Register your planned route and tell friends and family when you expect to return.
E – Emergency beacons are available free of charge from police & National Parks & Wildlife Service.
K – Keep to your planned route and follow the map and walking trails.
Visit http://www.trek.nsw.gov.au for more information.
