Today at approximately 1pm, whilst undertaking his favourite pass time of rock climbing at Sydney's Palm Beach, Rivers Unit volunteer, Luke McGaghey, witnessed another rock climber, who had been climbing nearby, suddenly and inexplicably fall from the cliff face and plunge backwards to a rocky ledge 9 metres below. 

Almost instantly, Luke and his rock climbing mates realised that the man had been seriously injured and swung swiftly in to action. After making an urgent '000' call to summoning help, Luke, along with some other bystanders, made their way down to where the climber lay unmoving on the rocks and stayed with him until Police and the Ambulance Service helicopter arrived, providing all of the aid to the man that they could until they got there.  Once emergency crews were on scene, Luke assisted the professional rescuers to retrieve the casualty, by helping to lift the man in to a stretcher and then carrying him to a clear area where the falling victim was winched to safety in the Ambulance Service of NSW helicopter. 

Luke, who has been a member of Rivers Unit for over 3 years, said that the it was amazing how all of his SES rescue training and skills just came to him and allowed him to take control of the situation until help arrived.  He said that 'just snapped in to SES mode' and knew exactly what needed to be done without consciously thinking about it.

This incident serves as a timely warning for all people who use ropes and climbing equipment to carry human life, to ensure that: