A diabetic man who almost died when he became trapped in a cave system in a NSW national park has been ordered to pay $15,000, with most going to his rescuers.
Geoffrey McDonnell, 47, appeared in Goulburn Local Court today to face charges arising from his dramatic rescue from Wombeyan Caves, in NSW's southern highlands, in May this year.
Police and other rescue workers found the barely conscious McDonnell trapped about 80 metres underground, stuck within a rock slide without his medication for almost 48 hours.
McDonnell, the Sydney Speleological Society's vice-president, was on a solo caving expedition when he became trapped while taking photographs.
Today he pleaded guilty to two charges, unauthorised entry to the cave system and risking the safety of a person in a national park.
Magistrate Geraldine Beattie imposed fines of $1,500 each for the two charges and also ordered him to pay compensation of $12,000.
The compensation will be split between the NSW Police Force and National Parks and Wildlife Service.
