Bangalley Head, Avalon: Family rescued after being stranded by incoming tide

A mammoth rescue effort was mounted when a dad and two small kids were stranded on rocks by the incoming tide. See the pictures.

A father and his two children, both aged under eight, had to be rescued from the rock platform at the base of the cliff at Bangalley Head. Picture: Rhydian Ward

A father and his two small children had to be rescued after becoming stranded by large waves and an incoming tide at the base of a cliff on Sydney’s northern beaches.

The trio were trapped during a walk on the rock platform below Bangalley Headland, just north of Avalon Beach, late on Wednesday afternoon.

A large multi-agency rescue mission, which included the NSW Police Polair helicopter, was mounted after the dad called triple-0 at about 3.40pm, worried about the safety of his son and daughter, both aged under eight.

The two children (left) with emergency services officers, including those who carried and helped them to the top of Bangalley Headland on Wednesday. Picture: Rhydian Ward

He told the emergency operator that he had became confused about their location and could not find a safe path away from the base of the cliff as the large swell began to crash across the rocks.

Using the signal from his mobile phone, emergency services were able to work out that the father was below the cliff, north of the Bangalley Head Lookout.

A joint rescue mission was organised at Bangalley Headland involving NSW Ambulance, Police, Fire and Rescue and Surf Life Saving NSW. Picture: Rhydian Ward

Three NSW Ambulance Special Operations Paramedics joined with specialist “vertical rescue” officers from Fire and Rescue’s Narrabeen station and firefighters from the Avalon station as part of the rescue effort.

The NSW Police helicopter was used to help locate the stranded family and then lower an officer to stay with them while the rescue effort was underway. Picture: Rhydian Ward

Emergency services officers on Bangalley Headland. Picture: Rhydian Ward

A crew member from the Polair was winched down to the rock platform to stay with the family who had been spotted by a Surf Life Saving NSW member patrolling on a jet ski from Palm Beach.

A NSW Ambulance spokeswoman said the specialist paramedics, carrying medial equipment, made their way down the step descent to the family. They were accompanied by firefighters.

Fire an Rescue spokesman Adam Dewberry said none of the family was injured.

“It took some time for them to be walked out. They were back to the top of the headland at about 5.20pm,” Superintendent Dewberry said.