A tourist from France has been winched to safety after being swept onto rocks at Bronte Beach earlier today.
Officers from Eastern Suburbs Police Area Command were called to the southern end of Bronte Beach about 1.45am (Thursday 26 December 2019), after a woman reported hearing a man about 50m offshore calling for help.
The officers spotted a man on rocks below the cliff, and climbed down the cliff to him.
They discovered the 38-year-old man had dragged himself out of the water onto rocks but was suffering compound fractures to his left leg, and cuts to his right leg.
Officers had to move the man 2m-3m up the rock shelf to escape waves before calling the NSW Ambulance helicopter crew to the scene who successfully winched the man to safety. He’s now being treated at Prince of Wales Hospital.
The two officers had to be winched out as well due to the rising tide blocking their way back.
The man told police he’d fallen into the sea near Bronte Baths and may have been in the water for 30 minutes before his cries for help were heard.
He’d only arrived in Australia 10 days ago on holiday.
