It’s been a wild and windy weekend on the Northern Beaches, with dramatic swells creating ideal conditions for local daredevils to get their thrills dicing with death.

The exhilarating albeit fretfully dangerous local rite of passage of ‘Chain Surfing’ was at full tilt at South Curl Curl as surfers also took to the seas to make the most of large swell.
A hazardous surf and marine wind warning was in place from the Bureau fo Meteorology all weekend for our patch of the eastern coastline. Waves up to five metres were spotted at Curl Curl and a buoy reportedly recorded up to 8.5 metres. Winds were fairly consistently at 40kmh.

Helicopter cliff rescue at Shelly Beach
A 24-year-old was rescued from a cliff fall around the Shelly Beach area late last night.
MAN FALLS FROM CLIFF AT SHELLY
A 24-year-old was rescued from a cliff fall around the Shelly Beach area late last night.
Just after 11pm, multiple crews were called after reports a man accidentally fell from a cliff in the area. An ambulance spokesperson confirmed a rescue helicopter and several units attended at Fairy Bower and the man was taken to Royal North Shore Hospital via road in a serious condition. If permission is given we will report back here on his condition.
Initial reports from ambulance that it was a woman were incorrect, according to multiple other sources.
Boat beached at Manly
Meanwhile on the harbour side of Manly a local boat owner was shocked to find his wooden boat off its moorings and stranded on the beach at East Esplanade, but patience paid off and he and his mates managed to return it to sea during high tide late on Saturday.
Strong winds and hazardous surf conditions are expected to continue through Monday but will ease by Tuesday.