A major emergency operation unfolded at a popular Illawarra swimming spot on Tuesday afternoon after a woman injured herself attempting a dangerous jump.
Dramatic Leap Leads to Serious Injury
A woman in her 20s is being treated for a potential broken leg after she tried to leap approximately four metres from a rock ledge into a water-filled rock pool at The Farm, Killalea. The incident occurred around 2:30pm on Tuesday, January 6, 2026.
Emergency services were alerted after the woman landed hard on the rock shelf instead of safely reaching the water. Paramedics from NSW Ambulance were first on the scene and reached the injured woman. However, they determined she could not bear any weight on her injured leg, complicating her extraction from the rugged coastal location.
Complex Multi-Agency Rescue Operation
Due to the difficult terrain, the situation escalated into a technical vertical rescue. Police Rescue officers were called to the site, along with two specialist vertical rescue teams from the Kiama unit of the State Emergency Service (SES).
Rescuers faced significant challenges in safely moving the woman from the rock shelf. The complexity of the operation led to the deployment of a rescue helicopter, which was tasked to the scene at approximately 3:45pm to assist.
Rescue Amidst Summer Safety Warnings
This dramatic incident serves as a stark reminder of the dangers present at natural swimming locations, especially during the summer holiday period. It follows a series of recent water-related tragedies and emergencies along the NSW coast.
The rescue at Killalea occurred during a spell of soaring temperatures and comes just days after a man was left fighting for his life following a rescue at a Kiama beach. These events follow the tragic drowning of seven people in NSW during the recent festive period, highlighting critical water safety concerns.
Emergency services continue to urge the public to exercise extreme caution around rocks, cliffs, and unfamiliar waterways.
