TWO decades after narrowly avoiding death on the Shipwreck Coast, David Darrington has returned to share his story on television.
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On an episode of Australia: Life on the Edge to be screened this weekend, the Queenslander recounts the day in January 1990 when he walked over the arched rock formation London Bridge, in the Port Campbell National Park, and found himself trapped with another hiker after it collapsed.
Show presenter Andrew Bales said Mr Darrington was quite emotional about returning.
“It was the first time he’d been back since he was taken off the stack,” he said.
“He stood on it (the part that collapsed) and jumped on it and said he wondered how many people had done that. He heard a splash and saw a piece of rock had fallen away.”
Bales said Mr Darrington photographed pieces of rock falling into the ocean and then tucked himself into a small crevice to keep warm until a helicopter rescued him and his companion several hours later.
Mr Darrington’s story is one of many showcased in the episode, titled Victoria’s Shipwreck Coast, along with the Loch Ard tragedy, secrets of a deadly coast and a visit to the Cape Otway lightstation.
Bales, a geologist, is one of four presenters. He said visiting the Shipwreck Coast was a highlight of filming the six-part series.
The coastline continued to be shaped, with new limestone stacks forming and others at risk of collapsing, he said.
“It’s always going to be a spectacular coastline because it’s constantly being shaped and carved,” Bales said.
“It’s one of those natural wonders. The stacks are statues frozen in time.”
Australia: Life on the Edge — Victoria’s Shipwreck Coast will air on Foxtel’s National Geographic Channel at 7.30pm on Sunday.
