Body recovery poses SAR challenge

On September 3, Auckland Police Search and Rescue (SAR) were faced with the challenging task of recovering a body from the base of a 200 metre cliff.

The cliff, near Mercer Bay, Piha, is the highest in Auckland. The victim and her partner were walking on a track at the edge of the cliff, when she asked her partner to take her photo. She walked backwards to the edge of the cliff, and fell, tumbling 150 metres to a small ledge about 50 metres from the bottom. She died instantly.

The Westpac Rescue Helicopter was dispatched and winched a paramedic close enough to the victim to confirm she was dead, but uncertainty about the stability of the ledge meant the paramedic couldn’t get off the strop to recover her.

Failing light made a recovery attempt too dangerous, however Sergeant Mark Fergus, team leader of the Auckland Line Rescue Team, was flown by helicopter to survey the scene. The Auckland Line Rescue Team comprises police and civilian SAR members.

“It was immediately obvious there would be some major challenges,” says Mark.

Heavy waves were breaking right on the base of the cliff, meaning the victim could not be lowered to the bottom. The top of the cliff was narrow, with no trees to anchor to. In between was 150 metres of crumbling rock. The longest length of rope the team would need was 200 metres, which would necessitate a number of ropes being tied together.

The recovery attempt the following morning was led by Auckland SAR Coordinator, Sergeant Dene Duthie. After discussion with the Westpac Rescue Helicopter crew, it was decided to attempt to get the Line Rescue Team close enough to the victim to move her closer to the edge of the cliff so she could be winched out. “The alternative was a difficult haul back up the cliff,” says Mark.

Two abseil and safety lines were rigged at the top of the cliff. Each system was anchored to nearby flax bushes. “It takes a lot of faith in the humble flax to walk heavily laden off a 200 metre drop with them as your sole means of support,” says Mark.

Constables Darren Calkin and Mark Beddek began the precarious descent. Within 20 metres, Constable Beddek’s rope dislodged a rock the size of a beach ball which crashed into his face, leaving him with a suspected cheek fracture.

Mark was hauled back up and civilian member Norm Shaw clipped onto the rope and descended to join Darren.

Both members then began the hour-long descent, pausing frequently to place protection on the rope where it was rubbing on the sharp rocks and to pass the knots in the ropes.

When they finally reached the victim, they were able to move her into a position where the helicopter could winch her and the recovery team out.

“The entire operation went very smoothly, as a result of the regular training and preparedness of the Line Rescue Team, and the courage of the members who took up the challenge of the descent,” says Mark.