NEWS DESK
X-rays show cracks after quarry jump Lucky escape: Youngsters were back at Moorooduc Quarry, Mt Eliza on Friday, two days after a 12-yearold boy was injured after jumping from a cliff. Picture: Gary Sissons
Stephen Taylor steve@baysidenews.com.au A MT ELIZA boy was lucky not to suffer spinal injuries when he landed awkwardly after jumping from a 20-metre cliff at Moorooduc quarry, Mt Eliza, last week. Vincent Davies, 12, was swimming with friends, Wednesday 17 January, at the popular swimming spot accompanied by one of their fathers when he followed other boys to the top – and jumped. Vincent hit the water back first and was “severely winded”, his mum, Manon, said later. However, x-rays later revealed eight broken vertebrae. “He said he wanted to go swimming there and I said, ‘absolutely no jumping off anything high’, because I know a lot of boys jump there,” Ms Davies said. “I called one of the other parents and she said their husband was going too and felt that it would be all right. “But he didn’t listen to me. He crept off and suddenly appeared at the top where the parent saw him and told him it was not a good idea.” Vincent jumped anyway. “It was lucky that dad was there because Vincent landed on his back and was completely winded; the dad was able to bring him to shore,” Ms Davies said. “He has indeed had a lucky escape.” Ms Davies said “the adrenalin must have kicked in” because her son was able to ride his bike home and appeared to be fine until hours later when he complained of back pain. “I was furious when I heard what had happened,” she said. “It was terrifying. It must have been like hitting concrete.” A nursing friend examined the youngster and 24 hours later x-rays
showed he had eight compression fractures but, luckily, no damage to his spinal cord. He will not require surgery. Vincent spent the night at Frankston Hospital and was moved to the Royal Children’s Hospital to see a specialist on Friday. “Now I’m worried about other boys
jumping there,” Ms Davies said. “Who knows what’s under the water: there may be old cars in there.”
Girl breaks ankles A TEENAGE girl suffered two fractured ankles when she jumped into a rock pool at Blairgowrie back beach,
Tuesday 16 January. The Surrey Hills girl – who is reportedly an elite diver – told Channel 7 news she was attempting a strata jump into a pin drop at the rock pool when she hit the sand hard. “I managed to swim up using my arms and screamed that my ankle was dislocated,” she said. “It was lucky I
didn’t go head first.” Her family at the scene made an emergency call to the Air Ambulance. Paramedics winched her up to the hovering helicopter and she was taken to a waiting road ambulance near St Johns Wood Rd for the trip to Frankston Hospital. A broken tibia and fibula mean she will be confined to a wheelchair for a month. Sorrento SES’s Evan Rutherford said the rock pool was a popular jumping spot. He said rescue crews were fortunate to be able to call in the helicopter as it was a “very long distance to carry the girl by stretcher up to the top of the steep cliff”. Beachgoers shaded the girl with umbrellas while they waited for assistance.
Kicked by horse A WOMAN in her 50s was airlifted to hospital with serious head and neck injuries after she was kicked by a horse at a property at Bittern, Wednesday 17 January.
Warning signs at beach FRUSTRATED lifesavers fear it is only a matter of time before there is a fatality near the mouth of Patterson River. Some Carrum beachgoers are failing to heed warnings to stay away from Patterson River while swimming. Four people have been rescued this month after getting into strife near the river mouth while lifesavers but the patrols are not a 24/7 operation. “We’ve arranged for big warning signs to be placed there, we speak with beachgoers, there are stories in the local paper and Facebook,” Carrum Surf
Life Saving Club captain Catherine Paulsen said. “However, people continue to swim there. Even after they’ve seen others swept away in a current and rescued they swim in the same place.” Lifesavers while on patrol have created a 50-metre “no swim” zone south of the river. Six people were rescued by lifesavers from Patterson River in January last year. Six people were rescued at Patterson River and two taken to hospital in December 2015.
A 41-year-old man drowned in January 2005 after being swept by the current into Patterson River. On New Year’s Eve 1998 a boy drowned after entering the water near the river. “It’s never safe to swim in or near Patterson River,” Ms Paulsen said. “We can’t save you if we can’t see you — swim between the flags. “Even if lifesavers aren’t on patrol, at Carrum beach the safest place to swim is usually within the no-boating zone in front of the surf life saving club.”
Danger lurking: Carrum beachgoers have again been cautioned against swimming near Patterson River. Picture: Gary Sissons
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Frankston Times 22 January 2018
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