A man was killed after a rescue helicopter was called in to airlift him out of the Macs Cove area in southern Australia; the man had suffered a broken ankle while hiking, and as the rescue was underway the winch cable snapped dropping him to his death.

ABC News recounts the tragic ordeal of the 68-year-old man who was bushwalking with a group at Macs Cove, near Mansfield in Victoria's north-east, when he broke his ankle about 10:30am AEST yesterday.

The ambulance helicopter was sent in to rescue the man about midday because of the terrain.

However, Ambulance Victoria chief executive Greg Sassella says at about 12.30pm he fell approximately 30 metres to his death while he was being winched into the helicopter with a paramedic.



"I understand he was at the door of the helicopter and they were attempting to get him into the helicopter," he said.

"This is devastating for the crew, they spend their whole lives putting themselves at risk for patients and in this instance something's gone astray."

The man is understood to have weighed more than 100 kilograms (220lbs).

Mr Sassella says Ambulance Victoria has suspended all winch rescues while the equipment is tested and an investigation is completed.

Police, the Civil Aviation Safety Authority and Work Safe Victoria are also investigating.

Counselling has been offered to the paramedic and the flight crew involved.