Rescue operation underway for Ulverstone man stuck in remote West Coast cave

The Westpac Rescue Helicopter has been deployed to rescue the man injured while caving on the West Coast.

A Tasmania Police spokesperson said a search and rescue team involving Ambulance Tasmania, Tasmania Police, SES and the Northern Caverneers Caving Club reached the man about 1am this morning.

"He had slipped and fallen several metres while ascending a ladder within the cave," the spokesperson said.

"He was with three companions, and two of them hiked for several hours to be able to call for assistance."

There are about 40 personnel onsite at the cave and all rescue equipment had to be walked into the location, which is 1.5 hours walk from the nearest road, the spokesperson said.

It is expected that the injured man will be airlifted to the Royal Hobart Hospital.

EARLIER:

A rescue operation is underway to save a man stuck in a remote cave on the West Coast.

Tasmania Police said the 62-year-old was caving with friends near Mount Cripps when he fell and injured himself.

The Ulverstone man was unable to ascend to the surface of the cave so two friends hiked out to reach phone reception and raise the alarm.

A join search and rescue operations involving Ambulance Tasmania, Police, SES, and the Northern Caverneers Caving Club was launched and has been underway since yesterday.

Police said the rescue team reached the caves in the early hours of Sunday, descended and found the man in a stable condition.

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West Coast Senior Sergeant Adam Spencer said the cave system was narrow and "otherwise has features difficult to traverse".

"This has made bringing the man up from underground safely a slow and complex operation" he said.

"He is constantly being monitored by Ambulance Tasmania, we are making ground and hope to have him on the surface soon."

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