Two Women Rescued From Cliff Face Near Catherine Hill Bay

BY OLIVIA DILLON

Two women were airlifted to safety on Saturday afternoon, after becoming trapped in a sea cave at Ghosties Beach, just south of Catherine Hill Bay. 

It's believed the two women in their 20's, lost their footing on the sand while swimming, and were swept towards the cave. 

They were found by the Westpac Recue Helicopter just before 5:00pm clinging to the cliff face, and were winched to safety by the Critical Care Paramedic one at a time. 

They were both transported to Wyong hospital in a stable condition, suffering only cuts and bruises.  

Man flown to John Hunter after medical episode on cruise ship

BY DAKOTA TAIT

The Westpac Rescue Helicopter has flown a seriously ill passenger to the John Hunter Hospital overnight, from a cruise ship 30 kilometres off the coast at Seal Rocks.

A critical care paramedic was winched onto the vessel in deteriorating weather.

A man in his 60s was suffering a medical episode, and winch-extracted from the cruise ship.

He was taken to the John Hunter in a serious but stable condition.

Boy rescued after Salamander Bay quarry fall

BY DAKOTA TAIT

A boy has been rescued after falling in a quarry at Salamander Bay on Tuesday afternoon.

Emergency services were called to Diemars Road around 5pm.

The Westpac Rescue Helicopter's Critical Care Team was lowered into the quarry to assist paramedics.

Paramedics stabilised the teenager, who had fallen three metres onto rocks and suffered pelvic and ankle fractures.

He was winch-extracted from the scene and airlifted to the John Hunter Hospital in a stable condition.

Man helped to safety after Hexham warehouse fall

BY IAN CROUCH

Paramedics have treated a man for minor injuries after he fell through the floor of an abandoned warehouse at Hexham on Thursday morning.

Police, ambulance and fire crews were called to Old Maitland Road just after 10.30am.

NSW Ambulance says the man in his 40s fell about three metres, at the former M.I. Steel Building.

He was helped to safety by police and paramedics, who treated him for cuts and a minor ankle injury.

Horse rescued from river at Muswellbrook

BY DAKOTA TAIT

A horse has been rescued after crossing to the wrong side of the Hunter River at Muswellbrook on Thursday morning.

Fire crews were called to the Racecourse Road property around 8:50am.

Using a rope system attached to the horse's bridle, they helped the owners return the horse safely across the water.

Passenger freed from van after Buchanan crash

BY DAKOTA TAIT

Emergency services have freed a person after a van crashed on Buchanan Road at Buchanan on Monday morning.

Rescue crews were called to the scene just before 7:30am, finding three people were already out of the vehicle, while a person in the front passenger seat was still trapped by confinement. 

Hydraulic cutters were used to remove the door and the B-pillar, to allow a spine board to be inserted and remove the passenger. 

All four people were taken to hospital by ambulance for further treatment.

Image credit: Cessnock District Rescue Squad.

Driver rescued after being pinned by tree at Singleton

BY DAKOTA TAIT

A woman has been rescued at Singleton, after her car was struck by a tree and she was pinned in the vehicle.

A rescue pumper from Singleton Fire Station joined police, ambulance crews and SES personnel at the scene in John Street around 5.15pm on Monday afternoon.

It's believed the tree was felled by a wild storm which struck the area.

Emergency crews used a chainsaw to remove parts of the toppled tree to reach and free the driver.

The woman suffered a sore shoulder and cuts in the incident, and was transported to hospital for treatment to her injuries. 

2022 Hunter Junior Life Savers of the year announced

BY SIOBHAN HARVEY 

Two of the regions most promising volunteers have been awarded the title of 'Newcastle Permanent Hunter Junior Lifesavers of the Year' over the weekend at the Hunter Branch Age Championships. 

The winners were 14-year-old Briella Gyler-Dial from Caves Beach Surf Life Saving Club and 13-year-old Taj Horadam from Redhead SLSC.

Monique Ramplin from Merewether SLSC was given a special mention and awarded a High Distinction for her efforts. 

Hunter Surf Life Saving president Henry Scruton said that local surf life saving clubs are about saving lives and building stronger communities and that the 2022 winners are the perfect candidates. 

"These young people are so impressive and are an asset to the surf life saving movement and to the beach safety of our community," Mr Scruton said. 

"The future of surf life saving will be in really good hands, these young ones have come in, had their interviews and have done extremely well." 

Mr Scruton said it is clear that the winners aspire to continue their work in surf life saving and keeping the community safe.

"They want to become IRB operators, drivers and patrol captains, they are really enthusiastic about the surf lifesaving movement which has thrilled us." 

Briella is working to inspire the next generation of lifesavers and advocate the importance of surf life saving. 

"Surf life saving is so important because lifesavers help prevent people drowning at beaches," she said. 

The awards at the championship were presented by Newcastle permanent's Swansea branch manager Brett Freebody. 

Newcastle permanent has had a long standing relationship with Hunter Surf Life Saving for over four decades and has just extended their support for the movement for another three years. 

"We have worked so well together because we are both committed to supporting our community," said Mr Freebody.

Source: Hunter Surf Life Saving 

Woman Charged After Being Rescued From Drifting Boat Off Port Stephens

 BY IAN CROUCH

A flood rescue has taken an unexpected twist when a woman was arrested after being rescued from her drifting boat at Port Stephens.

On Saturday, Marine Rescue and Water Police were alerted to a 3 metre tinny adrift off Tomaree Headland after the vessel ran into mechanical issues.

They rescued a 35-year-old Nelson Bay woman in driving rain and 25 knot south-westerlies who wasn't wearing a life jacket.

The unregistered boat was towed back to Shoal Bay Boat ramp where Police conducted a search of the vessel and the woman's belongings, allegedly finding a quantity of the drug ICE and cannabis.

The woman is due to face Raymond Terrace Court on January 10 charged with two counts of drug possession, mastering an unregistered vessel and marine safety offences..

59 Year Old Man Airlifted to John Hunter Hospital After Roof Fall

 BY ISABEL EVERETT

A man's been flown to hospital after falling of a roof in the Upper Hunter.

The Westpac Rescue Helicopter was tasked to Scone around 7:10pm on Thursday night, to reports a 59-year-old man had fallen from a roof and sustained a serious leg fracture. 

The he was treated by paramedics before being transported to Scott Memorial Hospital at Scone and airlifted to John Hunter Hospital. 

He was in a stable condition.

Westpac Rescue Helicopter Involved In Dramatic Ocean Rescue At Norah Head

BY IAN CROUCH

The Hunter's Westpac Rescue Helicopter performed a life-saving mission on the Central Coast last night when a woman was swept off rocks.

The chopper was called to Norah Head just after 8.30pm on Wednesday.

Crews used night vision goggles to help locate the woman in her 20's who was clutching a torch in the water.

Graham Nickerson from the Westpac Rescue Helicopter says she's lucky to be alive.

"Fortunately she was holding a torch which made things a little easier for the crew to spot her and a Critical Care Paramedic from NSW Ambulance was winched down into the ocean with her and secured her and she was delivered safely back into the aircraft," he said.

The woman is now recovering in the John Hunter Hospital.

 

Two Young Women And Baby Boy Rescued From The Chichester State Forest

BY IAN CROUCH

Police and Ambulance emergency teams have rescued two young women and a baby boy after they became stuck in the Chichester State Forest near Dungog.

The women, aged 25 and 27 and the 11-month-old were travelling in a 4-wheel drive which became bogged at the bottom of a steep muddy slope just before 8.30pm on Wednesday.

They managed to climb a hill nearby where they were able to get mobile phone service and call for help.

Crews found them safe and well about two hours later and took them out of the forest to safety.

Distressed Teenage Surfer Rescued At Redhead Beach.

BY IAN CROUCH

A teenage surfer has been rescued after being swept out to sea at Redhead Beach.

Two 17-year-old boys entered the water at about 6.00pm on Tuesday and became separated in the large swell.

One of the boys returned to shore but the other was heard calling for help after losing his board and being swept out to sea.

The Hunter's Westpac Rescue Helicopter found him about 500 metres from shore and winched him on board - he'd been in the water for about 45 minutes.

The boy was treated for exhaustion at the beach carpark before being taken to the John Hunter Hospital as a precaution.

“Had it not been for the swift response of emergency services, we could have had an extremely tragic event here today,” said Inspector Cheryl Day from Lake Macquarie Police District.

The Westpac Rescue Helicopter winched the boy on board and flew him back to the Redhead Beach carpark

BREAKING! Police Rescue Mother And Children From Burning Home At Maitland

BY IAN CROUCH

Police have rescued a mother and her two children from their burning home at Maitland.

Officers had just completed a vehicle stop at about 3.00am on Wednesday when they noticed flames coming from the rear of a single level weatherboard home in Clift Street.

They forced open the front door and found the woman and her children asleep inside and pulled them to safety.

A neighbour managed to extinguish the fire with a garden hose.

Police say a beer keg being used as a wood heater appears to have dropped embers on the rear timber deck which sparked the blaze.

The fire was confined to the deck area - the mother and children were unharmed and were able to return to the home.

Off-duty Police Officer Praised For Bravery At Port Stephens

An off-duty police officer and a local man are being praised for their bravery after rescuing three people, including two children, who were washed off rocks at Port Stephens yesterday.

About 2.40pm (Saturday 20 July 2019), emergency services were called to Boat Harbour after reports that three people, who had been swimming in rock pools, were washed into the ocean.

Due to high swell and windy conditions an eight-year-old boy, 15-year-old girl and 44-year-old woman – were carried south.

Onlookers alerted a local man, Mr Michael Pascoe, of Boat Harbour, in a small aluminium vessel, who went to their aid.

An off-duty police officer Sergeant Andrew Parker, from the Marine Area Command, entered the water with a rescue board and pulled the three swimmers to the boat.

Officers from Nelson Bay Police Station, Water Police, Westpac Lifesaver Rescue Helicopter and Surf Life Saving NSW all attended the scene.

The two children and their mother were pulled from the water with no major injuries; the girl is being checked for a suspected sprained ankle.

“The heroic efforts of Sergeant Parker and Mr Pascoe in rescuing these three people in dangerous surf conditions should be commended,” said Acting Inspector Christine McDonald.

“If not for the quick-thinking and courageous response from these men, the outcome could have been tragic for these three swimmers.”

Police Issue Warning After Barrington Tops Rescue

BY IAN CROUCH

Police are again urging snow chasers to be prepared after two four-wheel-drives became stuck on the Barrington Tops.

The two vehicles, which were travelling together, became bogged after a day trip to see the snow.

One of the occupants called triple oh just after 7.30pm on Sunday saying they had no food, no warm clothes and no water.

Neither vehicle was fitted with a winch, so they were forced to wait around 4 hours before help arrived.

Both vehicles were pulled out of trouble and were able to make their way back down the Tops.

Snow is again forecast today.

Young Woman Injured in Glenrock Fall

BY LAUREN FREEMANTLE

UPDATE 1PM:

The woman has been flown to the John Hunter in a stable condition, suffering head and pelvic injuries.

EARLIER:

The Hunter's Westpac Rescue Helicopter crew has winched a doctor and paramedic into Glenrock Reserve to treat a young woman injured in a fall.

The 18-year-old is believed to have fallen around 3 metres down a waterfall near a viewing platform.

She's expected to be winched out and airlifted to the John Hunter Hospital, while the extent of her injuries is not yet known.

Tangled Whale Still Missing off Newcastle

BY LAUREN FREEMANTLE

Marine welfare organisation, ORRCA, believes a whale spotted off Stockton yesterday and entangled in the string of a buoy may have drifted north of Port Stephens.

Despite towing the buoy and its string around, the whale is swimming freely - suggesting it's not in great discomfort at this stage.

Water Police searched for the whale last night to no avail, but are liaising with National Parks and Wildlife to monitor the situation.

Jools Farrell from ORRCA is urging skippers around Port Stephens and Newcastle to keep an eye out for the mammal.

"We're asking all vessels to keep an eye out for it," she said, "anyone who does spot the whale should call the ORRCA hotline...

"Members of the public who are out on the headland should do the same thing," Ms Farrell said.

ORRCA is reminding skippers if they do see the animal, law requires them to keep their boats at least 500 metres away.

Once the animal is located, a "difficult" operation to untangle it will begin, however a rescue of a whale caught in rope off the coast of North Head, Manly on Tuesday is providing hope.

"That whale was towing three buoys and it was successfully disentangled...there is hope for this whale - we're all staying positive," Ms Farrell concluded.

Teams save a whale at North Head on Tuesday. Image: NPWS. 

Woman transported to John Hunter after motor accident

BY LAUREN FREEMANTLE

The Westpac Rescue Helicopter has transported a 58-year-old woman from Hinton to the John Hunter Hospital this morning.

The woman sustained head and spinal injuries after being involved in a motor vehicle accident around 8am this morning.

She is currently in a stable condition.