A Point Cook man who sustained serious injuries during a hike has reunited with the emergency services that saved his life.
Stojanco Jovevski, 43, slipped and fell approximately six metres when hiking with five others in the Cathedral Range State Park in February.
Rendered unable to walk, Mr Joveski’s friends alerted emergency services and volunteers from the SES’ high angle team were first on scene to assist.
Deemed too dangerous to winch Mr Jovevski from the location, three members from the Victoria Police Search and Rescue Squad – which specialises in complex vertical rescues – were then called upon and flown to the site.
They set up a multi-directional roping system to safely move the man in three separate stages, which allowed the SES, CFA and Ambulance Victoria to perform the highly technical rescue.
Following the successful rescue, the 20-plus team of emergency services hiked two hours to reach the bottom of the mountain.
After being extricated from the spot, Mr Jovevski spent several weeks in hospital recuperating.
He said he was grateful to the first responders that saved him.
“I am very grateful to be here today and thank those that saved my life–I wasn’t able to walk and I was in a lot of pain,” he said.
“We’re incredibly lucky to have these services that can get us out of trouble in the middle of nowhere on a mountain ridge.”
Leading senior constable Steve Ellis, of the search and rescue squad, said Mr Jovevski was extremely lucky to survive.
“It is extremely gratifying to help someone in their hour of need and see them return to good health.”
