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Three hour rescue operation after bushwalker injures head in national park

A bushwalker was flown to hospital in a helicopter late on Monday afternoon, almost three hours after police arrived at the scene after reports a man hit his head.

Generic picture of emergency services (not related to incident). Picture: Fire and Rescue Hornsby
Generic picture of emergency services (not related to incident). Picture: Fire and Rescue Hornsby

In dramatic scenes, an elderly man was rescued from a national park in Sydney on Monday afternoon after he injured his head but it took almost three hours for emergency services to rescue him.

The 77-year-old man from Hornsby was on a bushwalk near Cockle Creek at Ku-ring-gai National Park when he slipped on a rock and hit his head about 3km in, according to NSW Fire and Rescue.

Bushland off Grosvenor St North Wahroonga near walking track. Picture: Google
Bushland off Grosvenor St North Wahroonga near walking track. Picture: Google

NSW Police confirmed they received reports and just after 12pm about 10 officers attended the site, which they were able to access from Grosvenor St in North Wahroonga.

“He took a tumble on the track and hurt his neck. They decided because of his injury to his neck, that it would be better to get him out by ambulance helicopter,” a NSW Police Spokesman said.

Seven crew members from the NSW Rural Fire Service assisted.

A 77 year old man from Hornsby was airlifted to hospital from near Cockle Creek in Ku-ring-gai National Park, accessed from Grosvenor St in North Wahroonga.
A 77 year old man from Hornsby was airlifted to hospital from near Cockle Creek in Ku-ring-gai National Park, accessed from Grosvenor St in North Wahroonga.

“Our crews assisted with that extraction, it looks like he was airlifted just after 3pm,” NSW RFS spokesman Greg Allen said.

The man received lacerations to his head and neck and was airlifted to Royal North Shore Hospital.

North Sydney Local Health District confirmed the man remained at hospital and was in a stable condition.

Original URL: https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/newslocal/three-hour-rescue-operation-after-bushwalker-injures-head-in-national-park/news-story/eb77d15a64fcb5d0c6e446ce8bc344c0