CANYONING / ROCK CLIMBING 11 June 2000 - Tiger Snake Canyon - rockclimbing/canyoning fatality. Blue Mountains, NSW
Lucas Trihey
rockclimbing/canyoning fatality. Blue Mountains, NSW
A party of four had completed Tiger Snake Canyon, a tributary of Rocky
Creek in the Wolgan Valley/Newnes Plateau area of Wollemi National
Park, and were exiting the gorge via a roped rockclimb. The first
climber, a man aged 20, ascended the cliff and fixed the rope for the
others to follow on prussik. He then detached himself from the rope and
moved to the cliff-edge before falling the height of the cliff,
possibly when an ironstone edge gave way. The victim was initially
conscious and able to walk but deteriorated rapidly. When the alarm was
raised Blue Mountains Police Rescue responded and found the victim
deceased. (Lithgow authorities were already engaged in the Capertee
Valley - see seperate report). Poor weather conditions prevented the
use of a helicopter and a difficult ground recovery was completed the
next day, resulting in some vehicle damage to bushland.
LEVEL 2 REPORT