Learning a Hard Lesson: Don’t Risk Your Life for a Phone
An Australian woman learned a valuable lesson the hard way this month — when you lose your phone in a tricky spot, don’t risk your life trying to save it.
The Dangers of Risking Your Life for a Phone
Matilda Campbell, 23, found herself in a precarious situation on October 12 in Hunter Valley, Australia, north of Sydney. While taking photos, she dropped her cellphone into a tight crevice between two massive boulders. As she tried to retrieve her phone, rescuers said Campbell slipped into the three-metre-deep gap and became stuck upside down.
The Rescue Efforts
Campbell’s friends, with whom she’d been hiking, tried to free her. After one hour of effort, Campbell was still stuck, so the group called for help. Due to limited cellphone service in the region, her friends had to search for an area to phone for emergency assistance.
Rescuers shared several dramatic photos from the rescue mission, including one of Campbell stuck deep in the crevice, with only her bare feet visible from above. A multidisciplinary team of medical and emergency personnel worked to remove “several heavy boulders to create a safe access point,” NSW Ambulance wrote.
When her feet were accessible, the team said they had to pull Campbell up through a tight ‘S’ bend between the rocks. The manoeuvre took over an hour.
The Aftermath
After seven hours trapped upside down, Campbell was pulled to safety. She suffered only minor scratches and bruises, rescuers said. A Tirfor winch, a form of manual rig for lifting and pulling, was used to move a 500-kilogram boulder so that Campbell could be freed. A hardwood frame was also constructed around the rocks to ensure stability and prevent cracking.
Conclusion
Campbell’s ordeal serves as a reminder of the importance of prioritizing one’s safety. In the face of danger, it’s crucial to seek help and not risk one’s life. Campbell’s story is a stark reminder of the potential consequences of reckless decisions and the importance of being prepared in emergency situations.
FAQs
- What happened to Matilda Campbell? Matilda Campbell, 23, dropped her cellphone in a tight crevice between two massive boulders while taking photos in Hunter Valley, Australia, north of Sydney. She became stuck upside down and was later rescued after a seven-hour ordeal.
- How was she rescued? Campbell was rescued by a multidisciplinary team of medical and emergency personnel, who worked to remove heavy boulders to create a safe access point and pull her up through a tight ‘S’ bend between the rocks.
- What were the consequences of the rescue effort? Campbell suffered only minor scratches and bruises, and she was pulled to safety after the ordeal. The rescue effort was a success, with both Campbell and the rescuers credited with a good outcome.