Pensioner plummets 20ft cliff in dramatic rescue near Hillhead
A man in his 60s is in hospital after a terrifying 20-foot fall down a cliff near Solent Breezes, just east of Hillhead. The pensioner fell while out walking with a friend and a dog this morning.
Coastguard and HART team launch daring cliff rescue
Hillhead Coastguard Rescue Team scrambled to the scene after the National Maritime Coordination Centre in Fareham received a 999 call reporting the fall. South Central Ambulance Service’s specialist HART paramedics also rushed in to help.
The injured man was found conscious and breathing at the base of the cliff with a badly damaged right leg. Paramedics swiftly immobilised and packaged the leg before placing him in a specialist stretcher.
Using safety lines, Coastguard rescuers hauled the man back up the cliff face to safety where waiting ambulance crews took him to hospital for treatment.
Coastguard issues cliff safety warning
“If you are heading to the coast, take extra care along cliffs and coastal footpaths,” a Coastguard spokesman urged. “Cliff gradients can be deceptive, especially after wet and icy weather when edges may be slippery or unstable. If you spot someone in trouble, call 999 and ask for the Coastguard.”
The incident serves as a stark reminder to stick to marked paths and stay vigilant when near coastal cliffs.
