Climber's remarkable tale of survival after he was left clinging to a cliff face for 23 hours in freezing temperatures - as he shares heartbreaking pictures from his hospital bed
- Macciza Macpherson was completing a standard trek in the Blue Mountains
- Spent 23 hours clinging to the rock face as rescue crews attempted to save him
- He could now lose both of his feet and will spend months or years in rehab
- The climbing community have started a fundraiser for his long recovery
Macciza Macpherson remains in a stable condition in hospital
A rock climber who was stranded on a cliff face for 23 hours after he slipped may need both feet amputated.
Macciza Macpherson, 57, was completing a standard trek in the Blue Mountains on Sunday May 17 when a sling attached to his harness caught on a branch and threw him off balance.
What was a 'simple and easy mistake' to make quickly became life-threatening as he tumbled 40 metres down a cliff face at Point Pilcher near Medlow Bath.
Mr Macpherson, who has decades of experience climbing in the region, spent 23 hours on the ledge as temperatures plummeted to 6C and rescue crews worked to free him before he was finally airlifted to Westmead Hospital.
Mr Macpherson's family told Daily Mail Australia he has since undergone two surgeries and has another two penciled in for later in the week to treat some of his extensive injuries.
He remains in a stable condition but is facing months - possibly years - of intense rehabilitation to treat two shattered ankles, both of which could still potentially need to be amputated.
The experienced climber (pictured with his children) spent 23 hours in plummeting temperatures as Police Rescue and paramedics worked to free him
Mr Macpherson has never experienced so much as a broken bone during his time climbing
'In true dad fashion he didn't do a half-assed job,' his daughter, Shana Connellan explained.
'The team are doing their best to save both of his feet. At this stage, both ankles may require fusion or he may lose them,' she said.
Some of his leg wounds will require skin grafts and free flap surgery, which carries a 50 per cent risk of infection and 75 per cent chance that the bone tissue will die by a lack of blood supply.
The lacerations in his arm are muscle deep, meaning medical teams are still trying to clean the exposed bones before any further action can be taken.
'The pain has been quite intense, but he's getting a little better each day,' she said.
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Some of his leg wounds will require skin grafts and free flap surgery, which carries a 50 per cent risk of infection and 75 per cent chance that the bone tissue will die caused by a lack of blood supply
The man fell 40 metres down the cliff at Point Pilcher near Medlow Bath in the NSW Blue Mountains
Doctors predicted it will be at least three months from the date of his final surgery before he can even attempt to stand up, which is followed by rehab to relearn how to walk.
Ms Connellan said her father first began experimenting with climbing in the 70s, but has spent much of his life since the '90s on cliff faces, including some of the most dangerous Australia has to offer.
Not once in the decades since he first began climbing has he experienced so much as a broken bone, but he has always been aware of the risks involved.
'He uses protective equipment in conjunction with the natural rock features to climb cliffs more than 100m tall,' she explained.
But the accident could've happened to the best of climbers, Mr Macpherson told Daily Mail Australia.
'[It was] similar to someone falling due to getting their pocket caught on a door handle or tripping on an uneven pavement,' he explained.
He said a small piece of equipment must have been hanging from his harness and got caught on a part of the cliff as he moved further up, pulling him off the wall.
Mr Macpherson's family (pictured) told Daily Mail Australia he has since undergone two surgeries and has another two penciled in for later in the week to treat some of his extensive injuries
Mr Macpherson and his family said they were eternally grateful to the rescue crews who worked tirelessly to pull him to safety.
'What an incredible effort in what was challenging circumstances,' Ms Connellan said. 'We are forever grateful'.
His friends and the climbing community have rallied behind him since the fall, and have so far raised close to $12,000 for his recovery fund.
'Macca is an icon in the Blue Mountains climbing community,' the fundraiser explained.
'He lives simply, climbs regularly, and enjoys sharing his knowledge and skills with many.'
Mr Macpherson said any money leftover after he has recovered will be donated to the organisations which contributed to his rescue.
Mr Macpherson and his family said they were eternally grateful to the rescue crews who worked tirelessly to pull him to safety
The shirtless man, believed to be in his 50s, fell half way down the cliff face at Point Pilcher near Medlow Bath about 4pm on Sunday
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