Neale Smith

Renowned climber Paul Pritchard returns to Tasmania's notorious Totem Pole to tackle the climb that nearly killed him eighteen years earlier and left him partially paralysed with a massive head injury. When Paul Pritchard returned to Tasmania's majestic Totem Pole rock pillar three months ago it was the culmination of an 18-year journey. The former professional climber and writer suffered a massive injury in 1998 when his rope dislodged a large rock, which fell on his head. He was saved by the actions of his former girlfriend who hauled him 30 metres up to a ledge before running for help. In a second stroke of luck, the paramedic on duty that day was also a climber. Neale Smith's decision to short-circuit a cliff rescue and abseil with Paul down to a waiting boat almost certainly saved his life.

A short film about rock-climbing legend Paul Pritchard, and his attempt to finally conquer the Totem Pole, a 'fearsome sea-stack' which 18 years ago almost cost Paul his life. Paul was one of the leading climbers and mountaineers of the 1980s and 1990s, renowned for his hard and extremely bold first ascents. In 1998 Paul was abseiling in to climb the Totem Pole in southeast Tasmania, when he dislodged a rock with his rope which hit him on the head, leaving him with a severe head injury that he was lucky to survive. This is a moving film about an extraordinary man on an inspiring life journey, his continuing recovery from a crushing injury and the never waning desire for adventure.