Climber rescued after falling near Portland Bill

The incident occurred on Saturday, just two days after two walkers were rescued in the space of three hours on the Dorset coast.

Weymouth RNLI lifeboat was launched shortly before 3.30 pm on Saturday to help with the medical evacuation of the climber, who had fallen from rocks at Wallsend Cove, close to Portland Bill.

HM Coastguard, the Air Ambulance and the South West Ambulance Service (SWAST) were all also involved in the multi-agency operation.

The climber was reported to have suffered a broken ankle - the same injury suffered by two walkers in separate incidents on Thursday, one at Portland Bill and the other at Pirates Cove in Wyke Regis.

After being stabilised by doctors from the Air Ambulance, Saturday's casualty was taken to a safe location by the coastguard, then transferred to the Weymouth lifeboat 'Ernest and Mabel'.

Weymouth RNLI Lifeboat

He was then taken to shore and put in an ambulance to be transported to hospital.

"This was a good example of a multi agency rescue ensuring the best care for the casualty," RNLI coxswain Andy Sargent said. 

"Luckily, the weather made the operation much easier."

The coastguard crew from Wyke Regis said both teams had made their way to the point where the climber ahd fallen, assisted by the hovering Air Ambulance pilot.

"While making their way to the casualty, the cliff team set up for a technical rope rescue and sent an officer to convey the team stretcher to casualty location," the team said.

"When with the casualty, the medical team administered pain relief, and the coastguard teams discussed the best options for extraction. Due to the close proximity to the shore, Weymouth Lifeboat was tasked to assist with extraction and made their way around from Weymouth.

"The patient was then handed over from the Air Crew Doctors to SWAST. The Air Ambulance crew were then taken by the Wyke team back to the helicopter location on Portland, to rendezvous with the pilot."