Man winched to safety after slipping on rocks at Shelly Beach Headland

Emergency services have winched a fisherman to safety after he became trapped on a ledge near Shelly Beach headland. See the dramatic video of the rescue.

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A fisherman was winched to safety in a dramatic rescue after falling on a rock ledge.

Emergency services and crews from the Toll and Westpac helicopters worked to treat and then rescue the man, about 45, who had been fishing with a friend.

A man was trapped on the rocks near Shelly Beach. Picture: Ben James

Emergency services were called around 9am to a rock ledge beneath Shelly Beach Headland.

The man had been fishing when he slipped and hurt his back.

He carried on fishing, unaware of the extent of his injuries.

It was only later he realised the extent when he was unable to move.

Emergency services were called and a decision was made to call for assistance from the helicopters.

The Toll helicopter winched in a doctor and paramedic while the Westpac helicopter also sent down one of its crew members.

Two paramedics from the NSW Ambulance Special Operations unit made their way down the cliff to assist.

They spent around an hour stabilising the man before he was winched out and taken to hospital.

Lee Dixon was one of the two NSW Ambulance Special Operations paramedics who treated the man on the rock ledge.

Fire and Rescue workers look on as a Toll helicopter goes to rescue a rock fisherman near Shelley Beach. Picture: Ben James

He said: “We were down there for about an hour. He slipped accessing the fishing spot and it took him a while to realise his injuries.

“He was down there with a friend and a good Samaritan went to help.

“He couldn’t move so we the only way to get him out was to winch him.”

The man suffered injuries to his back and legs. His condition is not thought to be life threatening.