Teen survives after falling off cliff in Barwon Heads near Geelong

A boy, 14, has survived after falling off a cliff on to rocks below at Barwon Heads.

Police and emergency services rescued the boy using a helicopter after he fell from the cliff near Bluff Road, Barwon Heads, on Saturday just after 4:10pm, a Victoria Police spokesperson said.

While police initially said the boy fell when a cliff face collapsed, police on the ground confirmed the boy fell around 40 metres but the cliff face had not collapsed.

It is just over a week since a man died after part of a cliff collapsed at Bells Beach.

Sergeant Nathan Jones from Victoria Police told the ABC the rescue effort was a success, despite the risks

“It was probably one of the more difficult ones you can get with an incoming tide and the fact that the cliffs are so unstable,” he said.

“You can see what’s happened last week over at Bells Beach with the cliff collapse.

“I think the greatest concern was with the helicopter and the down-draught that the unstable rocks could also fall on the rescuers below.”

He said the boy had been taken to the Royal Children’s Hospital but did not have life-threatening injuries.

Video: Man drowns trying to rescue child who fell into waterfall (Today)

Man drowns trying to rescue child who fell into waterfall

What to watch next

Click to expand

Replay Video