A tourist from Canberra was stranded for several hours after a long-drop toilet collapse at the Henbury meteorite crater in the Northern Territory. The woman was left waist-deep in sewage before being rescued by a passing tradesman.
The incident occurred Sunday afternoon while the woman was visiting the site, located approximately 120km south of Alice Springs, with her partner and two children. She remained trapped in the pit for three hours.
Investigation into Long-Drop Toilet Collapse
NT WorkSafe is currently investigating the accident. Initial inquiries indicate that the toilet structure fell into the sewage pit, taking the tourist with it.
The agency stated that the notification of the incident was made by the management of the conservation zone. The event is being treated as a dangerous incident under work health and safety laws due to the collapse of the structure.
A witness reported that the woman’s partner had driven up the highway in an attempt to find phone reception and secure help when they encountered a tradesman.
The tradesman lowered a tow rope into the hole, allowing the woman to stand on it, and then used his vehicle to lift her out. The rescue process took approximately 45 minutes.
The woman sustained a few cuts and was shaken by the experience. She was subsequently taken to Alice Springs hospital.
Images of the outhouse show the site has been cordoned off with caution tape. Long-drop toilets, which use deep dug-out pits to collect waste, are common in remote areas.
Similar incidents have occurred elsewhere, including a 2024 event near Wodonga, Victoria, where a man became stuck in a long-drop toilet for about an hour.
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