EMERGENCY services have rescued a couple overnight trapped in a notorious ocean cave at Catherine Hill Bay.
The pair in their 20s spent almost 13 hours in the cave, after becoming trapped by rising sea waters on an afternoon walk they had started at 2pm.
Police located them at 11.30pm Tuesday and a large-scale rescue operation was launched.
Fire and Rescue crews from Lambton, Belmont and Swansea found a rocky path into the cliff above the trapped couple and worked through the dark and cold to establish a rope system. A fire fighter rappelled down a 20 metre drop off the ledge onto crashing waves and rocks to access the cave and locate the two trapped people.
One at a time, crews physically hauled the rescue fire fighter and the couple to the top of the cliff. They were assessed, given warm blankets and walked out to an awaiting ambulance by police officers. Both the man and woman were treated by NSW Ambulance on scene for minor cuts and scratches.
Lambton station officer M Savage credited all the crews for the long and difficult task of carrying such heavy equipment over such difficult terrain.
