A 60-year-old woman has been rescued after falling eight metres into a cave system at Empress Spring in remote Western Australia, sparking a 12-hour multi-agency operation. The incident occurred on Friday evening on David Carnegie Road in Lake Wells, approximately 1,400 kilometres north-east of Perth.
Emergency services, including police, paramedics, and fire crews, responded to the scene around 5pm. The woman's partner provided critical aid overnight, lowering first aid supplies, water, and camp chairs into the cave while awaiting specialist vertical rescue equipment.
The rescue was completed at 5:35am on Saturday, and the woman was transported to Laverton Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. Laverton Police Officer in Charge Senior Sergeant Brendan Grogan praised the couple's preparedness, highlighting the importance of being ready for emergencies in remote areas.
Goldfields-Midlands DFES Acting Superintendent Murray McBride described the operation as a 'tricky rescue' requiring specialised skills due to the vertical context and the patient's potential injuries. WA Country Health Goldfields Executive Director Alicia Michalanney confirmed the woman was in stable condition after assessment at the hospital.
The rescue involved collaboration between the Department of Fire and Emergency Services, Laverton Police, St John WA, the WA Country Health Service, and the WA Department of Health. A St John WA spokesperson commended the inter-agency teamwork.
