THE body of a Victorian man, who died after falling from a cliff in the Flinders Ranges in the state’s far north on Thursday, has been retrieved.

The man, 36, fell about 50 metres onto a ledge about 3.30pm while climbing with a group. A companion alerted Hawker police.

“The retrieval operation commenced at 8am (Friday) and it took police about an hour and a half to reach the man’s body and almost seven hours to retrieve him,’’ a police spokesman said.

Emergency workers rushed to the Crag Climbing area, Upalinna, near Arkaroo Rock Rd, about 40km north of Hawker on Thursday but could not save the man.

“The man was with rock-climbing companions at a well-known location on the south-eastern corner of Wilpena Pound, when he fell about 50 metres onto a ledge,’’ the spokesman said.

The police rescue helicopter and SES volunteers were also been called in.

Police will prepare a report for the State Coroner.

News_Module: Rock climber falls