St Kevin’s College student falls while climbing at Mount Arapiles

St Kevin’s College has made changes to its outdoor program after a 16-year-old fell up to eight metres while rock climbing in western Victoria.

A student was taken to hospital after falling while rock climbing at Mount Arapiles. Picture: File

A St Kevin’s College school trip has ended in tragedy, with a 16-year-old hospitalised after falling up to eight metres while rock climbing.

The boy was among 20 year 11 students on a school trip to western Victoria.

The school has since modified the outdoor education program to ensure students climb no higher than three metres in full sight of staff.

The student fell onto a rock ledge while climbing at Mount Arapiles around midday on Tuesday and was taken to Horsham Public Hospital.

Two other students were trapped on the ledge after witnessing the fall and had to be rescued.

The year 11 boy who fell was transferred to the Royal Children’s Hospital on Wednesday in a stable condition with lower body injuries, a hospital spokesman said.

The email sent to families said the student required surgery but is now in a stable condition.
“Unfortunately on Tuesday during a coordinated and harnessed rock climbing activity, which was supervised by a professional instructor, one of our year 11 students fell whilst climbing up a rock face,” it said.

CFA staff said high angle rescue crews were called in to help bring the climber down from the ledge.

A student fell onto a rock ledge while climbing at Mount Arapiles around midday on Tuesday. Picture: Jason Edwards / File

It’s understood St Kevin’s College has been in continual contact with the injured boy’s family and has also emailed the parents of the other boys on camp.

The email to year 11 families on camp, sent at 8pm on the night of the incident, said activities would proceed.

The boys were given the chance to return home or stay on the trip and all have decided to stay.

But on Wednesday the school told parents students “will do the top ropes and boulders program, rather than the multi-pitching program on Mt Arapiles”.

“The ropes and boulders program is 3 metres from the ground, the students are belayed from below and are in full sight of staff and students,” the email said.

The Herald Sun spoke to one parent of a year ten student who was concerned the entire school hadn’t been advised of the accident.

“I heard about it and panicked,” she said. “We should have all been told exactly what happened by the school.”

It’s understood privacy concerns has led to the delay in communication to the wider student body.

The news comes after four other rock climbers had to be rescued from the mountain in late February. SES Victoria has warned Mount Arapiles is a very challenging climb, even for experienced climbers.