The accident sparked a major rescue operation, with the climber being winched to safety by the SnowyHydro Rescue Helicopter about 1pm.

He was then taken to the Wagga Base Hospital emergency department in a serious but stable condition, suffering from multiple injuries.

In what police are calling a “freak accident” the man was climbing with his wife when things went terribly wrong.

An experienced climber, his safety harness was undone for only a moment when he slipped and plunged to the base of the cliff.

Paramedics, police, the VRA and SES units from The Rock and Wagga rushed to the scene after his wife dialled triple-0.

But, because he was located about two kilometres inside rough terrain there was some difficulty getting to him.

He was not at the usual climbing area used by the public.

Paramedics were the first to reach the patient and he was found to have suffered injuries to his right hip, knee, calf and hand, along with a number of cuts.

He was conscious and told them he also felt a serious pain between his shoulder blades.

VRA squad captain Tim Lidden described the area where the man fell as jagged and rocky.

“He was very lucky to survive the fall,” he said. “The area around him had loose and jagged rocks.”

The SnowyHydro chopper was called just after noon and it circled above the area for about 20 minutes before lowering a doctor and paramedic.

The injured man was then able to be retrieved and he was taken to Wagga’s hospital about 2.30pm.

Police said the man had all the necessary safety equipment and he had been wearing a helmet when he fell.

“It was just a freak accident,” a spokeswoman said yesterday.