Climbers rescued after getting stuck at top of 60m-high Totem Pole at Cape Hauy on Tasman Peninsula

Two climbers have been rescued overnight after getting stuck at the top of a 60m-high rock formation in Tasmania in wild weather conditions.

The duo — from out of state — had tackled the popular Totem Pole sea stack at Cape Hauy on the Tasman Peninsula but got into trouble when their ropes became entangled in high winds.

Police Search and Rescue were notified the climbers had become trapped about 6pm.

Senior constable Callum Herbert said the pair had reasonable climbing experience but were “unable to reach safety” and a “complicated rescue” in “wet, dark, windy conditions” followed.

He said attempts to rescue the climbers via helicopter and then a police vessel were aborted because of the high winds and a dangerous swell. Teams then had to try a different approach, walking in from nearby Fortescue Bay, not reaching the Totem Pole until about 11.30pm.

“Members from the Climbing Club of Tasmania Vertical Rescue Team conducted a complicated vertical rescue of the two climbers,” Sen. Const. Herbert said.

“This involved members of the club partially scaling the Totem Pole in wet, dark and windy conditions.”

Eventually, rescuers made contact with the climbers and they were secured to ropes and moved to safer cliffs.

“As dawn broke, they were hauled approximately 50 metres to safety,” Sen. Const. Herbert said.

“It was done at night in cold, wet and windy conditions by a team of dedicated volunteers and they have ours and the climbers’ heartfelt thanks.”

The climbers were treated by a wilderness paramedic but aside from being hungry, tired and cold, they had no injuries.