Woman falls from cliff trying to retrieve mobile phone
A woman who fell from the highest lookout point in the Blue Mountains slipped while searching for her mobile phone.
Donna Christie fell 30 metres from Hassans Walls lookout at Lithgow in New South Wales yesterday afternoon, according to The Lithgow Mercury.
The 44-year-old woman who is believed to have suffered serious head, spinal and chest injuries, had been out bushwalking with family and friends when she slipped and fell.
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Ambulance spokesman Rhys Dive said the woman was unconscious when paramedics arrived, according to ABC News.
"On arrival, the paramedics were assisted by emergency services personnel to stabilise the then unconscious patient, lift her back up to the top of the cliff face, where an ambulance helicopter was then dispatched from Sydney," he said.
After the 90-minute retrieval operation Ms Christie was flown to Westmead Hospital where she is now in a critical but stable condition.
The woman was bushwalking with a male friend and her two children, aged 12 and 13, along a section of the lookout when she dropped her phone on the cliff edge which had no security fencing.
"In this case, it would appear that she's accidently dropped her phone and in trying to retrieve it, she's lost her footing and fallen,” said Inspector Chris Sammut from Lithgow police.
He noted that the tragic accident, which could have been avoided, was a timely reminder for bushwalkers to be cautious when walking near cliff ledges.
"It's such a vast area [Blue Mountains] that obviously they can't put fencing in every area," he told ABC News.
"Just don't go anywhere near the cliff edge, you can admire the view from five feet back."
Inspector Sammut said the best approach was to avoid risks.
"We have to weigh up whether a mobile phone is worth a life and obviously the answer is 'no'," he said.
"The phone can be replaced."
Morning news break – April 15
