‘Idiot’: Hiker’s 24hr horror after stubborn act

A man who was rescued in a dramatic mission called himself an “idiot” after being “too stubborn” to turn back following a wrong turn.

A man who took a wrong turn on a hike in Sydney spent 24 hours in freezing conditions after falling off a cliff and being forced to cling to a remote rock edge until he was dramatically rescued.

Daniel Hart was walking along the popular Coast Track in Royal National Park at Eagle Rock south of Sydney on Saturday when he fell off a cliff and ended up in the ocean.

The 27-year-old was “ragdolled” by angry waves before getting washed up on a rocky ledge around 20m below the Eagle Rock cliff face.

Daniel Hart, 27, spent 24 hours in freezing conditions after falling off a cliff and being forced to cling to a remote rock edge. Picture: Nine News

Mr Hart told Nine News he had taken a wrong turn and was “too stubborn to turn back”.

“[I] spent about three hours climbing along the rocks then a massive wave came and changed everything,” he told the outlet.

After scrambling to get back up to dry land before it got dark, he settled for a small cave halfway up the cliff where he spent the night “curled up in a ball”.

When Sunday morning rolled around, he tried to climb the 20m to the top of Eagle Rock, but accepted it was impossible. He told the outlet he had to “swallow his pride and yell out for help”.

He was saved in a dramatic rescue. Picture: Seven News

That’s when another bushwalker heard his cries for help and alerted authorities.

Around lunchtime on Sunday, a crew of NSW Ambulance paramedics abseiled down the jagged cliff face in a dramatic rescue mission.

The 27-year-old was moved to a spot where he could be winched safely to a rescue helicopter.

Inspector Jason Rutherford described it as a “difficult extraction”.

“He was unable to be winched directly up the cliff, so they set up a lateral safety system to move him sideways to a place where he could be safely winched by the helicopter,” Mr Rutherford told Nine News.

Daniel fell off a coastal track while walking in Royal National Park at Eagle Rock north of Sydney on Saturday. Picture: Nine News

Mr Hart thankfully walked away with minor injuries with paramedics treating him for scratches to his knees and mild hypothermia.

When asked about his “remarkable” rescue, Mr Hart was cool and calm, and simply said: “Yeah … it was grouse,” before thanking his rescuers.

Asked by Nine News what was going through his mind, Mr Hart said he was thinking: “You’re an idiot, why are you so stubborn?” He added that it “could have been a lot worse”.

he later shared a selfie with one of the rescuers. Picture: Instagram/basicincomewalk

He incredibly escaped with just minor injuries. Picture: Instagram/basicincomewalk

Mr Hart, an experienced bushwalker, was 50 days into a planned 4,500-kilometre journey from Victoria’s east coast to Cape York in far north Queensland, to raise awareness for a Universal Basic Income.

He is advocating for everyone to be given an unconditional $500 a week to cover their basic needs.

In an Instagram post, Mr Hart shared a selfie on the cliff face alongside one of his rescuers with the caption: “Posting this from the Sutherland Hospital. Bit of a misadventure yesterday; I’ve lost all my stuff, spent the night in a cave on a cliff, and had to get airlifted out today.”

The post has been liked more than 3,600 times with many flooding the comments section.

“Omg mate!!! I’m a paramedic and was telling my crew about your walk today!! Then heard this job come through!! I’m so so glad you are OK!! I’ve been following your walk since day one!! So glad you are OK!!” one person wrote.

“Maaaate! What happened? You’ve left us with a cliff hanger! Lucky we have such great health care. Look after yourself,” another added.

Mr Hart started the walk in April with a goal of walking the length of mainland Australia, which will take him roughly six months.