Black Bank Fisherman’s Lane – Cliff Top Rescue

There was an emergency call out on the radio on Monday late afternoon, 22 August 2022. A fisherman had fallen down Black Bank cliff and rescuers needed the help from the community of fit and strong able-bodied people, to go out to Black Bank at Fisherman’s Lane and help with a cliff top rescue. Marg and Ken, who live on Fisherman’s Lane, had a knock at the door to be told a fisherman had fallen about 15 metres down the cliff when the rope had snapped when returning up the rocky face of Black Bank after an afternoon fishing. The injured man has visited Norfolk Island for over twenty years and regularly comes over for the golf tournaments and fishing with his Norfolk Island friends.

It didn’t take long for local sullan, community members to gathered at the scene along with VRA, the cliff top rescue volunteer team, the Norfolk Island St John Ambulance crew, and local police. The five-hour challenge to manoeuvre the injured man up the cliff was a massive challenge. A rescue stretcher was taken down Black Bank and the man’s injuries were reported was cuts, abrasions and possible injured ribs and pelvis. He was secured in the stretcher and harnesses and ropes were attached to assist with lifting him up the steep rocky cliff.

With the support of the many strong hands the helpers assisted with holding the ropes and slowly pulling the injured fisherman up the cliff while the VRA, cliff top rescue team and Ambulance crew assisted from below supporting and reassuring the injured man as the delicate job of manoeuvring the stretcher up the steep rocky face.

The fisherman is lucky to be alive and with the help about 20 or 30 supporting the ropes and many emergency crews and volunteers the man finally reached the grassed area at the top of the cliff after dark, almost five hours after the horror rescue started.

He was taken to the Norfolk Island hospital in the St John Ambulance, and the doctors were able to commence medical care, and we are so lucky to have great doctors and medical team at NIHRACS, Norfolk Island Health and Residential Aged Care Service. The fisherman was later transferred to Australia on a medivac medical care flight, and it has been reported that during the week he has had surgery.

During the days that followed, images and photos of the event have been posted on Facebook, along with words of thanks to the Norfolk Island community who rushed to Fisherman’s Lane and Black Bank to help with the massive emergency. The weekly police reports on the Norfolk Island Radio Station has also thanked the emergency crews and community members who help with the injured fisherman.

Here is a Facebook post from Marg and Ken’s daughter Kath King about the Black Bank accident.

Huge shout out to the VRA, NI police and the awesome community who answered the call on the radio for any strong able-bodied people to help haul up

the poor fulla who slipped and fell down the cliff at Black bank after fishing. Our thoughts and prayers go out to him and his family, and best wishes on a full recovery. I hope the mates that were with him aren't suffering too much shock. Big thanks to the generosity of Kay Greenbury from Hot Krust Bakery for the cakes and lamingtons to feed all the crew after their 5 hr rescue, with a nice cuppa tea. Photos are mine, shared with permission from VRA and Police. Also not forgetting St John ambulance officers James and Hannah who were with him all the way. And a

big thanks to the boys who rang and offered their help as soon as they'd finished unloading the ship.

Black Bank is a remote fishing spot on Norfolk Island, and a favourite for rock fishing for those who are fit and able to climb down and back up a steep rocky shoreline cliff. The climb has cords and ropes to assist with the climb and even a ladder has been secured in one section to assist with the dangerous area. The rocks are sharp and gnarly and not for the faint hearted with ocean swells also washing up on the lower ledge. Fisherman also have to carry their fishing rods and gear up and down the cliff and hopefully fish for dinner on their climb back up. I have never been down the cliff, but I have viewed the steep track from the top and the cliff edge from a fishing boat. I think it is safer to fish from a boat or the piers. It is always advisable to fish with a mate and to always have a charged phone in a waterproof holder when adventuring to remote places like Black Bank. You should always tell someone where you are going fishing and when you will be back. Luckily the fisherman was fishing with a friend, and he was able to raise the alert for the emergency rescue.

Here are few photographs which have been shared on Facebook, showing the difficult rescue and the amazing gathering of the Norfolk Island community, the amazing sullen who helped with the Black Bank fisherman’s rescue. Thanks, from ucklan, you are all amazing especially those who went down the cliff and brought the fisherman safely up Black Bank.

Remember in an Emergency call 000 for HELP, for medical, fire or police or VRA cliff top rescue.

We hope the fisherman is recovering after his horror accident and our thoughts are with him, his family and friends and hopefully will see him back on Norfolk Island when he has recovered

Betty Matthews
August 2022