A WOMAN who reportedly fell 80ft from a cliff has been confirmed as missing woman Marian Hesketh.

The 46-year-old is said to be in a 'critical' condition after she fell from a cliff at Hengistbury Head in Bournemouth on Wednesday afternoon.

Ambulance crews, an air ambulance and the Coastguard helicopter were called to the scene at 3.30pm.

A Dorset Police sopkesman said: "At 4.39pm today Dorset Police was informed by HM Coastguard that a woman had fallen off the cliff at Hengistbury Head in Bournemouth.

"She was airlifted to Southampton Hospital where she remains in a serious condition.

"It has now been confirmed that this is 46-year-old Marian Hesketh, who had gone missing from her home in Bournemouth yesterday.

"Her next of kin have been informed.

A spokesperson for South Western Ambulance Service said paramedics had to sedate the woman before the air ambulance could fly her to Southampton.

"She fell quite a distance - some callers were saying she fell possibly 80ft.

She was taken to hospital in a critical condition," the spokesperson added.

She is being treated for multiple injuries including serious head and back injuries.

A spokesman for the Maritime and Coastguard Agency said they were called at 3.45pm after being asked to assist the ambulance service.

Teams from Southbourne Coastguard and the search and rescue helicopter were sent to the scene.

James Moran was walking along Hengistbury Head when he saw both the air ambulance and Coastguard helicopter land at the scene. 

He said: “I saw both helicopters on the beach, and an ambulance and police car on the lower coastal path.”

Dorset Police said they were not treating the incident as suspicious and officers at the scene were unable to give any more information.

Half a dozen onlookers gathered on the coastal path as the emergency services dealt with the incident.

Louise Harman, who was walking her dog along the beach, said: “We noticed all of the police activity and wondered what was going on.

“There seemed to be quite a few emergency response vehicles around.

“It's really terrible what's happened, hopefully the woman is okay."