Inside the daring 3-hour operation to rescue a group of tourists from a cliff in Australia
CBS News • • general
Key Points:
- A group of seven tourists, including three children, became trapped on a cliff along Australia's east coast when the tide rose during their morning beach walk.
- The tourists climbed to a ledge as 16-foot waves approached, and they used their phones to call police for help.
- A helicopter rescue was deemed too dangerous due to the risk of downdraft pushing the group into the water.
- Rescuers used ropes and a specialized device called the Arizona vortex to safely bring the group down without damaging the equipment on sharp rocks.
- The three-hour rescue operation was conducted by unpaid volunteer Australian emergency workers who have trained extensively for such scenarios.
