Rescuers aid woman after gorge fall

After a young woman was injured in a gorge in Karijini National Park, State Emergency Service volunteers from Tom Price and Newman sprang into action for the park's first vertical rescue of the year.

A group of 13 St John Ambulance and SES volunteers answered the call for help on March 20 after a young woman fell while traversing Joffre Gorge in the park.

Tom Price SES manager Jo Heptinstall said the gorge was in a difficult location for helping injured people.

"It has a steep entry and the only time we would walk someone out is if they can support their own weight," she said.

"This certainly was not the case on Thursday, meaning SES teams from Tom Price and Newman joined local ambulance volunteers to bring the young woman up the gorge face."

Mrs Heptinstall said four SES vertical rescue team members were minted in the Pilbara last year after donating hundreds of training hours to attain the difficult qualification.

"Luckily three of these team leaders (one from Tom Price and two from Newman) were available to operate the rescue and it was a privilege working with all the volunteers that answered the call for help that day," she said.

"It was also exciting to have the new Paraburdoo-based community paramedic Mel Parker join us, allowing a greater level of medical care for the injured party."

The rescue took eight hours as volunteers worked to bring the woman up the cliff-face.

Mrs Heptinstall said the conditions were trying.

"It was very dry and very hot at the gorge that day," she said.

"Just as the woman was taken in the ambulance we all raced home to avoid being swamped in an afternoon storm."

Both St John Ambulance and SES Units throughout the Pilbara are always looking for new volunteers.

Visit www.dfes.wa.gov.au or www.stjohnambulance.com.au to find out how to get involved.