SYDNEY, Jan. 3 (UPI) -- Rescuers swam across a river ro reach two rock climbers after lightning struck the 1,000-foot-tall cliff they were on, shocking one of them, authorities said.
The climbers were about 750 feet up the cliff when it was struck by lightning Sunday, shocking Alex Hall, 17, Sydney's Daily Telegraph reported.
After the lightning strike, Hall and his climbing partner, Jeremy Levett, 23, decided to abandon the climb and descend the cliff. They called for help on a cellphone after their rope became stuck on a lower section of the cliff.
By the time emergency personnel arrived hours later, the two had made it to the base of the cliff, cold and dehydrated, but otherwise unharmed, the report said.
To reach the climbers, rescuers had to swim a flooding river and slog through slippery mud. It took about 6 hours to reach them.
Rescuers were unable to use a helicopter because rain and low visibility made it unsafe to fly.
The climbers had been camping near the cliff before storms rolled into the area in the Grose Valley near Pearce's Pass. They didn't take an emergency radio on their climb.
Police encouraged people to take appropriate emergency devices on hiking or canoeing expeditions.
