ASHLEY GORGE RESCUE

Press, Volume XCIII, Issue 27858, 5 January 1956, Page 13

ASHLEY GORGE RESCUE

CLIMBER TRAPPED ON SLIP

TWO HOURS HANGING ON STEEP SLOPE

After being trapped for more than two hours on a steep slip-face in the Ashley .gorge on Tuesday evening, Mr Alister Falla, aged 22,* of 698 Avonside drive, was rescued by three Oxford men. In the gathering darkness a rope was lowered to him from a narrow ledge 25ft above his head, as boulders and shingle tumbled down the slope, nearly causing him to lose his balance and slip nearly 200 ft down to the creek bed below him.

At his home yesterday Mr Falla limped to a settee and gently fingered the bumps the boulders raised oh his head.

“I set out to climb up the creek, to get a view over the gorge.” he said.

“After about 100 ft or so I went to cross to another gully and come down again. I found that I would have to go higher, and it was then that I became trapped. I had not intended to climb the slip, though.”

When he saw that the climber was in difficulties Mr James Lawson, who with his wife manages a tea kiosk at, the gorge, telephoned Constable William Theyer, of Oxford. Others who. came to Mr Falla’s rescue were Messrs F. Newell. D. Grant, and B. Boon, of Oxford Transport Services, and Messrs W. and M. Morgan and B. Woodfield, of Glentui.

Messrs Newell, Grant, and Boon went up the creek, crossed a gully and came down to a ledge about 25ft above Mr Falla. Constable Theyer and other climbers waited nearby, and Mr Falla’s younger brother, Mr Graeme Falla, aged 21, climbed up below him. Shower of Shingle

“Although I was trapped. I was in no immediate danger until the last three or four minutes,” said Mr Falla “As the rope came down it brought a shower of shingle and large boulders. The shingle banked up against my shins and made me lose my foothold.

“Before I could grasp the rope and fasten it round my waist I had to regain my foothold. That was the most dangerous moment of all.” After roping himself securely Mr Falla signalled to the three on the le’dge to pull him up. He was then swung dovvn over into the next guily, where the rest of the party were awaiting him. “There were some anxious moments,” said Mr Falla's father last evening. “In fact, he is lucky to be alive today.” Scores of spectators watched the rescue. Afterward those who had assisted were g?Ven hot tea and refreshment by Mr and Mrs Lawson. “I would like to thank those who came to my rescue,” said Mr Falla. “As long as I thought I could get myself out of trouble I did not want to alarm anyone else, but I am glad they arrived when they did. Just a little longer and it might have been 100 late.”