AN AMERICAN tourist visiting the Tweed has suffered a minor fall at the top of Wollumbin Mt Warning, hindering her ability to hike down at around 2pm on Saturday, July 8.
Tweed Police said the woman, in her 50s, had suffered minor injuries from a fall near the top observation deck and was unable to descend from the kilometre-high hike.
The Westpac Rescue Helicopter was dispatched at around 3pm and hovered over the mountain for several minutes, according to local witnesses.
Police said the woman was assisted down for about 100-metres to an emergency helicopter pad.
The helicopter then winched the woman off the mountain and flew her to The Tweed Hospital for assessment and treatment.
The officer told The Weekly that her injuries were not serious and only local rescue services were required at the scene.
It was the first helicopter rescue on the mountain since Wollumbin National Park was re-opened more than five weeks ago following the Tweed flood.
Anyone visiting Wollumbin Mt Warning is reminded that the trail is considered an advanced hike and can take up to six hours round trip.
Please note that elders of the Bundjalung Nation request that visitors not climb the mountain as it is a sacred site. However, those that decide to climb are asked to be respectful, take their rubbish with them and respect the environment.
Information from Visit NSW states that: “Wollumbin is a sacred place of great significance to the people of the Bundjalung Nation. Under Bundjalung law, only certain people can climb Wollumbin, so consider choosing to respect their heritage.”