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Another day, another arapiles incident :( 6-Jan-2006 At 3:04:06 PM jh

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Wimmera Mail Times
Italian in cliff fall
Eugene Duffy
Friday, 6 January 2006
EMERGENCY services and climbers have responded rapidly to the latest climbing accident at Mt Arapiles.

Franz Boshetti, 24, of Moreno in Italy suffered head and hip injuries after falling seven metres at Mt Arapiles shortly before noon yesterday when a safety device pulled out of the crack he was climbing.

Yesterday's fall follows an incident in early December in the same climbing area.

Mr Boshetti's climbing partner dhTristan Wardley from Melbourne said ambulance officers and fellow climbers were on the scene within 15 minutes of the alarm being raised.

Mr Wardley said Mr Boshetti was a confident and experienced climber who was resting on the safety gear when it pulled from a climb called Hyaena, causing him to hit the ground.

He said Mr Boshetti was unconscious for about 30 seconds and suffered a brief seizure before recovering consciousness.

Mr Wardley said it was reassuring as a climber that the emergency response was so rapid.

Rural ambulance paramedic Paul Burton said the climber was treated at the scene for a hip injury and lacerations to the skull and would be taken to Wimmera Base Hospital to check for any underlying injuries.

Mr Burton said the head injuries might have been avoided if the climber was wearing a helmet.

Nine members of the combined Goroke and Horsham State Emergency Service teams transported the victim off the cliff face and down a narrow path to a waiting ambulance.

About a dozen climbers including Horsham Rural City councillor Iain Sedgman and Natimuk climbing writer Simon Mentz were on the scene to assist.

Horsham SES team controller Jason Woodhart said having the local knowdhledge of members of the Arapiles Rescue Group and other climbers to help had sped up the rescue.

"It is always good to have as many people as possible, it makes the carry-out much easier," Mr Woodhart said.