A man has died after collapsing a night-time event at Durdle Door.

Dorset coroners confirmed this morning that a person died following the International Year of Light event last night.

It comes after a person was airlifted from the scene by the coastguard helicopter. His condition was described by emergency services last night as life threatening.

Dorset Police said paramedics had to make their way on foot to the scene because cars parked by people attending the light show were blocking the route.

Officers attended to try to clear the way.

South Western Ambulance Service have now issued a plea to people to avoid obstructing roads and remember that 'seconds can cost lives' in an emergency situation'.

A spokesman for the service said: "Following a recent incident at Durdle Door, Dorset, a vehicle causing an obstruction meant that crews had to abandon their vehicle and continue to a casualty on foot. Fortunately in this instance a first responder was already providing treatment to the patient."

SWASFT’s director of operations, Neil Le Chevalier, added: “Parking inappropriately can lead to delays in our crews getting to the scene of an incident. In an emergency situation, where seconds really can make a huge difference to the outcome for our patients, it is vital that we are able to get there as quickly as possible. I would urge the public when parking vehicles in narrow roads to have a look around and think about whether there would be enough space for an emergency vehicle to get through.”

A spokesman from South Western Ambulance Service said: "We got the call at 7.40pm to reports that someone had collapsed and wasn't breathing.

"We had a community responder on the scene, rapid response vehicle, an officer and a crew.

"CPR was carried out on the scene by paramedics with the assistance of the community responder.

"The patient was flown in the coastguard helicopter to Dorset County Hospital, Dorchester."

 

 

  • Thousands of people watched Durdle Door illuminate as part of a nationwide art project.

They gathered on the cliff-top and on the beach to watch as the iconic arch played host to the display.

It was part of an ambitious plan to simultaneously light up UNESCO World Heritage sites across the UK and Ireland – an idea developed by the Society of Light and the Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers.

Bournemouth-based designers from Michael Grubb Studio used a man rowing in a boat under the Jurassic Coast landmark, accompanied with the use of various tricks, in a bid to create a scene reminiscent of impressionist art.