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23-year-old fisherman rescued 300 metres offshore after falling from cliff in Cape Cuvier

Jessica MoroneyMidwest Times
A fisherman has been rescued with just minor injuries after slipping on rocks and falling two metres into the ocean from a cliff near Cape Curvier. 
Camera IconA fisherman has been rescued with just minor injuries after slipping on rocks and falling two metres into the ocean from a cliff near Cape Curvier.  Credit: Sandee

A fisherman has been rescued with just minor injuries after slipping on rocks and falling two metres into the ocean from a cliff near Cape Curvier.

Carnarvon police were called to the area on Friday, June 7 about 8am after reports a man had slipped off rocks near Cape Cuvier, about 100km north of Carnarvon.

Carnarvon officer-in-charge Sen. Sgt Paul Tolan said a 23-year-old man, who was fishing with his brother, fell about two metres and landed in the water during a period of high swell and rough conditions.

Sen. Sgt Tolan said the man’s brother threw a buoy out for him but he was unable to climb back up the cliff face.

He said a change in current could have been fatal if the man was pushed towards the cliff.

“Thankfully, the tide took him about two or three hundred metres out,” he said. “It was about a three-metre swell so he was very lucky he wasn’t washed towards the rocks.”

Sen. Sgt Tolan said water police, local police and volunteer marine rescue crews were able to utilise a Dampier Salt vessel operating in the area.

The vessel located the man 300m offshore and rescued him later that morning.

Sen. Sgt Tolan said the 23-year-old man was fortunate to survive the incident with minor scratches and bumps, and urged people to steer clear from walking on wet rocks.

“Take precautions, it’s obviously very dangerous out there,” he said. “The cliff face is very treacherous and at the moment the swell is drenching the rocks and people can slip, which is what happened here.”

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