A 17-year-old girl has been airlifted to Wollongong Hospital in a serious but stable condition after suffering a possible dislocated hip after landing awkwardly off a rope swing at a waterfall east of Nowra on Monday afternoon.
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NSW Ambulance Paramedics were called to an area known as Hell Hole Waterfall, near the Parma Creek off Braidwood Road at Yerriyong around 12.30pm.
Reports were the girl had suffered a hip injury, with a friend who was with her raising the alarm.
"Initially, poor communication reception in the area hampered efforts to locate the injured girl," said NSW Ambulance Inspector Faye Stockman.
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"And also the person rendering assistance was not familiar with the area."
After establishing the incident had happened near the waterfall, ambulance paramedic crews were able to drive the four-wheel drive vehicle part way to the location.
"We were able to get as far as the first waterfall before having to hike the remainder of the way through the bush to the second waterfall where the injured girl was," Insp Stockman said.
"It was a trek of around 10 minutes through the bush to get to her location."
After assessing the girl, the Toll NSW Ambulance Rescue Helicopter from Albion Park was called to the area.
The onboard medical team was lowered into the location and further treated the girl.
Rural Fire Service crews from West Nowra and Tomerong were also on standby in case the girl had to be carried from the location.
In an operation completed around 4.15pm the girl had to be carried by stretcher to a more open area where she could be winched on board the helicopter and flown to Wollongong Hospital.
Insp Stockman said it was a "testing job" mainly due to "it's location and the poor communication reception in the area" but it "had gone well."
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