A woman died face down between the rocks for 7 hours while returning the phone – National
An Australian woman learned an important lesson the hard way this month – when you lose your phone in a treacherous place, don’t risk your life trying to save it.
While taking pictures on October 12 in Hunter Valley, Australia, north of Sydney, Matilda Campbell dropped her mobile phone into a crack between two large rocks. When he tried to retrieve his phone, rescuers said Campbell fell into a gap three meters deep and got stuck face down.
On social media, the New South Wales Ambulance Service joked Campbell found himself “between a rock and a hard place.”
Campbell’s friends, who were traveling with him, tried to free him. After trying for an hour, Campbell was still stuck, so the team called for help.
There was limited cell phone service in the region, so Campbell’s friends had to find a place to call to get emergency help.
Officials shared a number of dramatic photos from the rescue operation, including one of Campbell stuck deep in the pit, her bare feet visible at the top.
A team of multiple medical and emergency personnel worked to remove “several heavy boulders to create a safe access point,” NSW Ambulance wrote.
The NWS Ambulance Service said Matilda Campbell found herself in ‘unexpected trouble’ when she slipped through a rock crevice.
Instagram @NSWAmbulance
When his feet were within reach, the team said they had to drag Campbell up a tight ‘S’ curve between the rocks. The orientation took more than an hour.
Get daily world news
Get the day’s top news, politics, economics, and current affairs, delivered to your inbox once a day.
After seven hours of being trapped upside down, Campbell was pulled to safety. He suffered only minor bruises and scratches, rescuers said.
A Tirfor winch, a manual type of lifting and pulling machine, was used to remove the 500-pound rock to free Campbell. A hardwood frame is also built around the rocks to ensure stability and prevent cracking.
Matilda Campbell was stuck face down between two huge boulders for seven hours.
Instagram @NSWAmbulance
In the end, Campbell couldn’t find his phone.
Emergency workers told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation that Campbell was “calm” and “collected” during the operation.
He revealed himself on social media on Monday while discussing the news about the incident. Referring to the photos taken by the rescuers, she wrote, “It’s not my feet that are shown like that.”
In another post, the 23-year-old thanked his friends and paramedics who “worked so hard to get me out.” He said they might have saved his life.
Campbell called himself “the most dangerous of all.”
“No more rock exploration for me for a while!” Campbell joked.
Peter Watts, an emergency rescue specialist, said he had “never seen a job like this” in his 10 years of experience. He said the work was “challenging but incredibly rewarding.”
“Every facility has a role to play, and we all worked very well together to get the best outcome for the patient,” Watts said.
© 2024 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.
