Parks and Wildlife Service Rangers, St John WA paramedics and SES volunteers worked together for five hours to rescue the tourist from Joffre Gorge.

US Police Officer Antonio Fanning was hiking through the gorge last July when he fell around 8 metres and landed in the rocky pool below, suffering a fractured vertebra. Fortunately, four fellow hikers were nearby and provided first aid while raising the alarm.

The first on the scene were Parks and Wildlife Service Rangers, who were joined by St John WA and SES volunteers in what became a logistically challenging and lengthy rescue.

After being placed carefully on a stretcher and winched up 60 metres to the top of the gorge, Officer Fanning was taken to hospital for treatment.

National Park Ranger Michael Bones said: “The response time from St John Ambulance and from the SES was incredible given where we are.

“Most of the people involved would be volunteers, people that have all worked a full day… they're coming out here and they're at Joffre Gorge in the middle of Karijini National Park ‘til 10 at night helping someone that's got themselves in trouble.

“It’s fantastic work and a real testament to all of the people that have come out and given up their time to help someone else.”

Mr Fanning is a police officer assigned to a school in his home town of Auburn, Alabama. The community of Auburn raised funds to get Officer Fanning back to the United States on a flight.

Officer Fanning, who suffered a fractured vertebra, a head injury, a fractured wrist and dislocated finger, has now made a healthy recovery and has returned to work. Several months on, he’s sent a special message to his WA rescuers.

“I want to thank everybody involved in my rescue,” said Officer Fanning.
“I want to thank the Park Rangers, the emergency personnel, the whole volunteer crew that came out and rescued me that night. I appreciate everybody. Thank you Western Australia.”

The incident is an excellent example of inter-agency collaboration to achieve a safe rescue. It was captured on camera by DBCA cameraman Miles Brotherson, who had been in Karijini National Park all day filming a conservation initiative when the emergency call came through just before dusk.

The resulting video will now be used for staff training and safety awareness and can be viewed on the @ParksAndWildlifeWA Youtube channel.

Story by Miles Brotherson and Alex Gore.