A 15-year-old Eden school student was rescued on Monday after becoming stranded on a 50-metre coastal cliff face for about three hours.
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Crews from the Snowy Hydro SouthCare Rescue Helicopter winched the boy to safety at Aslings Beach about 2pm.
The boy told police he had climbed up the cliff from Eden Beach and became stuck about 10 metres above the ocean.
Local emergency services crews were called to the area but were unable to reach the boy in wet and windy conditions.
In a rescue which lasted just minutes, Snowy Hydro crews used an emergency winch to free the boy, transporting him to a nearby sports oval without injury.
Merimbula Police Sergeant Cliff Scarlett told Fairfax Media the alarm was raised by another child and officers had waited above the rescue scene as the operation took place.
‘‘A young bloke just climbed up and can’t get back down,’’ he said. ‘‘He’s not going to be very happy. I spoke with the lad. He’s not hurt but a little cold.’’
Local media reports suggested the boy had been wagging school at the time of the incident, with Merimbula police notifying his parents.