Two Ararat State Emergency Service crews were sent to assist with the rescue, but were not required due to the remoteness of the location and the Warrnambool based south west rescue helicopter was used to winch the man out.

Ararat SES controller Geoff Dunmore said the climber had been climbing at Mount Abrupt when his climbing protection ropes dislodged from the cliff face, causing him to fall backwards. Ropes still attached to the cliff face prevented him from plummeting to the ground, but when he swung towards the cliff face he broke both wrists trying to protect himself. He also received serious head injuries.

Two fellow climbers lowered the man to the ground and hiked an hour to the road to raise the alarm.

The new south-west emergency helicopter was called on to winch the man out and slashed many hours off what potentially could have been a lengthy carry-out operation by SES crews.

Mr Dunmore said it is estimated that the chopper only takes between 15 and 20 minutes to reach the Grampians area from its base in Warrnambool.

''If we had to go in it would take about an hour and then the carry-out would take about three to four hours,'' he said.

The MICA paramedic crew winched the man out of the area and then landed the chopper again, stabilising him before flying him to Melbourne for treatment.