A woman survives terrifying fall in Watagan Mountains.

BY IAN CROUCH and JESSICA ROUSE

A woman has survived a terrifying fall in the Watagan Mountains over the weekend.

There were reports the woman had been rock climbing when she fell but it's now understood the 46-year-old had been camping in the area and was walking through the bush when she slipped and fell 10 metres suffering serious injuries.

She was stabilised at the scene by paramedics before she was carried out by the Police Rescue Squad to a waiting 4-wheel drive ambulance before she was airlifted by the Westpac Rescue Helicopter in a serious but stable condition to the John Hunter Hospital.

Westpac Rescue Helicopter on the scene.

Family lucky to escape after fire engulfed their home in Belmont

BY IAN CROUCH and JESSICA ROUSE

A family has been lucky to escape their home in Belmont North overnight when it was engulfed by fire.

Just after 10:30pm fire crews from Belmont and Tingira Heights arrived to find a fire which started in the garage and spread to the roof of the home in Bimbadeen Close.

Fire caused extensive damage to the home.

Police say while they're not treating the fire as suspicious, crime scene investigators will return later this morning to determine how it started.