A DIVER was airlifted to Poole as a precaution after making a rapid ascent.

The 42-year-old male had been taking part in a 35m dive four and a half miles west of Portland.

It was suspected the ascent would cause him to later suffer from decompression sickness.

Coastguards were alerted at around 10.30am on Monday by the skipper of the chartered boat he had travelled with.

A spokesman for Portland Coastguard confirmed the man was taken to Poole via Portland Coastguard Helicopter as a precaution.

The helicopter landed at the Whitecliff recreation ground before the diver was taken to the nearby recompression chamber.