Two friends have climbed a 120-metre cliff to seek rescue after their jet ski was wrecked by relentless waves off Western Australia's south coast.
Albany resident Daniel Parker set off with friends Steven Quain and Marco Diablo to visit a surfing break at a reef near Muttonbird Beach, between Denmark and Albany, which is only accessible via jet ski.
Mr Parker said he and Mr Quain left Mr Diablo at Muttonbird Beach while they took the jet ski to investigate the swell at the nearby reef.
As Mr Parker explained, a large wave knocked them off the jet ski and the machine's "kill switch" was activated.
"As we went over this wave the life jacket caught on the kill switch and turned it off," Mr Parker said.
He said as he went to start the jet ski again, another wave knocked the pair off the vehicle and onto the rocks.
Mr Quain swam to a nearby rock and indicated that he was safe and Mr Parker again tried to start the jet ski but the vehicle was pushed back onto rocks by a wave.
Mr Parker said he then activated the vehicle's EPIRB (Emergency Position Indication Radio Beacon) at about 8am on Saturday.
An uphill battle
Hidden behind towering cliffs and now in the water, Mr Parker said the best option was to swim to shore and climb the cliffs to get help.
Albany Sea Rescue, the RAC rescue helicopter and local police responded to the emergency call.
"There was no beach where we were," Mr Parker said.
"It was quite an effort."
Eventual rescue
Mr Parker said an initial attempt to climb the cliff was unsuccessful due to the steep incline.
He said the 20-minute swim and climb up the cliff made the walk through the thick bush extremely difficult.
Mr Parker said Mr Quain ended up cutting the arms off his wetsuit to make some socks for him and the pair walked through the prickly bush.
He said they were spotted by a police drone, which alerted an Albany Sea Rescue boat.
After signalling to sea rescue boat operators that they were OK, the pair walked from the cliff to a cleared path and made their way to a sealed road, where they were met by police.
As for the jet ski, which ended up stranded on dry rocks, Mr Parker said it was badly damaged.
"The jet ski now is a bit smashed up and not usable."
The importance of EPIRBs
Albany Sea Rescue's Operations Coordinator Chris Johns praised the resilience of the men and said it was a great outcome that proved the efficiency of EPIRBs.
Mr Johns said the setting off of an EPIRB hit home for rescuers like himself.
Mr Parker agreed the resources made a difference.
"Make sure you've got you EPIRB, marine radio and first aid kit in the water.
"We had all those things, which was great."
But Mr Parker said communication was the most important thing.
"Letting people know where you are is very important."
