A 60-year-old woman has been rescued after spending 12 hours trapped in a cave in remote Western Australia. The incident occurred on Friday evening in the Goldfields region, approximately 1,400 kilometres north-east of Perth.
Emergency services were called to David Carnegie Road in Lake Wells at around 5pm following reports that the woman had fallen eight metres into a cave system at Empress Spring. Multiple agencies, including Department of Fire and Emergency Services, Laverton Police, St John WA, and health services, responded to the scene.
While awaiting specialist vertical rescue equipment, the woman's partner lowered first aid supplies, water, and camp chairs into the cave to assist her overnight. The woman was safely freed at 5:35am on Saturday and transported to Laverton Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
Laverton Police Officer in Charge Senior Sergeant Brendan Grogan praised the couple's preparedness, stating it reinforced the importance of being well-equipped for outdoor activities. Goldfields-Midlands DFES Acting Superintendent Murray McBride described the rescue as challenging due to the remote location and the need for specialized vertical rescue techniques.
WA Country Health Goldfields Executive Director Alicia Michalanney confirmed the patient was in stable condition upon arrival at the hospital. A St John WA spokesperson highlighted the successful collaboration between multiple agencies during the operation.
