Two interstate climbers who became stranded at the top of a 65-metre tall rock formation on the Tasman Peninsula overnight have been rescued.
The climbers called for help from the Totem Pole around 6pm on Wednesday when strong winds caused their ropes to become entangled.
Senior Constable Callum Herbert from Police Search and Rescue said deteriorating weather conditions forced them to abort initial helicopter rescue attempts.
A subsequent plan to reach the climbers by police boat from nearby cliffs also proved impossible due to “significant and dangerous” ocean swells.
After multiple failed attempts, the stranded climbers were reached at 11:30pm by a search and rescue team, working alongside members of the Climbing Club of Tasmania.
“This involved members of the club partially scaling the Totem Pole in wet, dark and windy conditions,” Herbert said.
“After communication and contact was made with the climbers they were secured to rescue ropes, moved to cliffs on the mainland and as dawn broke they were hauled approximately 50 metres to safety.”
The pair were described as being “hungry, tired and cold” following the ordeal.
They had “reasonable climbing experience”, Herbert said.
