NSW Police release footage of stranded rock climbers rescued from Warrumbungle National Park

This is the moment a police helicopter spotted two rock climbers on a cliff after the pair spent a harrowing night stranded in a NSW national park.

Extraordinary footage has revealed the moment a police helicopter spotted two rock climbers huddled on the side of a cliff, where the pair spent a harrowing night stranded in a NSW national park.

NSW Police released the vision on Tuesday afternoon, following the rescue operation in Warrumbungle National Park, north of Dubbo, that morning.

Emergency services were called to the park about 5pm on Monday after the 80-year-old man and 47-year-old woman activated a personal locator beacon when the latter slipped and fell while climbing near Grand High Tops lookout.

PolAir vision of the stranded rock climbers on the cliff. Picture: NSW Police

While Police Rescue Squad officers and 100kg of specialist equipment were winched into the site on Monday night, the pair were not rescued until 8.30am on Tuesday, when police, including PolAir officers, conducted what was described as a “vertical rescue” in conjunction with the Toll Ambulance Rescue helicopter and NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service.

The woman was airlifted to Dubbo Base Hospital to be treated for suspected broken ribs, while the man was uninjured.

Police Rescue Squad officers who were winched onto the cliff. Picture: NSW Police

When police released the footage on Tuesday afternoon, Acting Superintendent Paul Stephens described the outcome as “hugely positive” and a “testament to the great work of all involved, particularly given the difficult terrain”.

“We want to thank our emergency services partner agencies and volunteers for all they have done,” he said.