The national parks worker killed in a horror rockslide in the Blue Mountains has been identified as veteran climber Dave Gliddon.
Mr Gliddon, 36, died on Wednesday morning after a sandstone cliff collapsed on the contractor and two of his co-workers, aged 26 and 27.
Friends have flooded social media with tributes to the father of twin girls, describing the local as a ‘true legend’ and ‘as strong as an ox and as calm as a monk’.
‘(He was) positive, enthusiastic, he was one of those people who could change the energy in the room,’ one said.
‘Very, very sad when someone so cool gets taken far too early.’
‘As strong as an ox, as calm as a monk’: Father-of-two Dave Gliddon, 36, has been identified as the man killed in the Wentworth Falls rockslide tragedy
Friends said Mr Gliddon was ‘the sweetest friend who made you want to be more tolerant and patient’
The contractor’s body was retrieved by helicopter about 1.20pm on Thursday
Rescuers are pictured canvassing the tragic situation in the valley this week
‘A legend across the board,’ a third friend said.
‘(He was) the sweetest friend who made you want to be more tolerant and patient, more adventurous, more familial, learn all the skills, just all the good.
‘To know Dave is to have him as your hero.’
Mr Gliddon and his colleagues had been repairing a closed walking track.
It was shut to the public in August due to the unstable rock platform above.
A sudden landslide about 11.40am on Wednesday led part of the escarpment to fall from its 10m height.
The rock slip sounded like dynamite exploding, a nearby bushwalker told the Australian Associated Press.
Rescuers rushed to the scene but because of the remoteness of the location it took them 45 minutes to arrive.
Mr Gliddon’s body was cut free from a large boulder but he tragically died at the scene.
His co-workers were also trapped under rock but were winched to safety following a delicate extraction yesterday afternoon.
Veteran climber and national parks worker Dave Gliddon was killed in the tragic accident
‘To know Dave is to have him as your hero,’ another mate said
The site had been closed since August because of an unstable section of rock above the track
Both the 26 and 27-year-old were airlifted to hospital and are now said to be in a stable condition.
Mr Gliddon’s body was retrieved by helicopter on Thursday. A police guard stood watch overnight.
In a statement, National Parks and Wildlife said it was deeply saddened by the accident.
‘Work to make the track safe was underway by experienced contractors,’ a spokeswoman said.
A report will be prepared for the coroner.