Port Melbourne man Eugen Benchea fell at 11.15am on Sunday while rock climbing at The Fortress in the south-west of the Grampians, but he did not reach Hamilton Base Hospital until 15 hours after the fall.

Ambulance Victoria was called about 11.30am but Victoria Police Search and Rescue Squad was not notified until 1.35pm.

The delay meant Mr Benchea could not be winched out by helicopter because of fading light.

Rescuers, including volunteers from various SES groups and Arapiles Rescue Group, helped carry Mr Benchea in the dark through rough terrain for four kilometres.

He reached the waiting ambulance just after 1am. Rescuers finished about 3.30am.

Sergeant James Bate, of the Search and Rescue Squad, said the late notification was `cause for concern'.

"To have someone injured in a remote location that didn't have straightforward access meant this was going to take a while to get to him. The earlier we know the better so we can make an informed decision," he said.

Sgt Bate said earlier notification would have made the rescue easier.

"We would have got him down before last light and been able to evacuate him by helicopter, so he would have got to hospital quicker," he said.

Sgt Bate said the prolonged rescue also meant volunteers had to give up more of their time.

"There were a lot of people involved in the rescue, the duration was a lot longer than was potentially necessary," he said.

Sgt Bate said the squad was unsuccessful in solving the issue with Ambulance Victoria.

"Delays do happen a bit, the information between emergency organisations needs to be better. The lack of notification via the ambulance service is frustrating for the Police Search and Rescue Squad," he said.

"It wasn't until the local police were called that they gave us a courtesy call to let us know."