A 16-year-old boy was winched from rocks at Queenscliff Headland and flown to hospital after falling between five and eight metres while scaling the cliff face with a friend.
Emergency Crews Reach Queenscliff Headland
Emergency services were called to the end of Queenscliff Road shortly before midday on Friday, 3 July, following a report that someone had fallen from a cliff onto rocks below.
NSW Police, firefighters from the Manly and Narrabeen Fire and Rescue NSW stations, five NSW Ambulance crews including Inspector Mark Whittaker, and the Toll NSW Ambulance Rescue Helicopter attended.
Crews located the teenager on the Freshwater side of the headland near the wormhole. He was conscious and able to explain that he had been climbing the cliff face with a friend when he lost his footing and fell onto the rock platform.
The boy had struck his head during the fall. Paramedics treated a laceration and assessed him for other injuries after he reported pain in his back and injuries to his legs.
Aeromedical Team Lowered to the Rocks
The rescue helicopter arrived above the headland shortly before 12:30pm. A critical care paramedic and specialist trauma doctor were winched directly down onto the rock platform to join the crews treating the teenager.
Emergency personnel considered several ways to move him from the area. One option was to secure him in a Stokes litter and carry him through the wormhole towards Queenscliff Surf Life Saving Club.
After consulting the aeromedical team, Inspector Whittaker determined that a helicopter winch was the most appropriate way to remove the boy from the platform safely and quickly.
The teenager was secured in the litter and prepared for the lift.
Drones Delay Helicopter Return
Two drones operating near the rescue delayed the helicopter’s return because they were in its flight path.
Once the drones had moved clear, the aircraft took off from Manly Oval on Sydney Road and returned to Queenscliff Headland shortly after 1:30pm.
The boy and the aeromedical team were winched into the helicopter. He was then flown directly to Royal North Shore Hospital in a stable condition.
Published 4-July-2026
