A MAN sustained "serious leg injuries" after falling from a crumbling cliff top and becoming trapped underneath a rock yesterday evening.

Emergency services were called to St Alban's Head near Worth Matravers, Purbeck, at 7.27pm following reports that the man had tumbled 300 feet.

This morning a spokesperson for South Western Ambulance Service said it is believed he sustained "serious leg injuries". 

Paramedics, firefighters and police officers rushed to the scene, along with a specialist rescue team from Poole, to discover the man lying below the cliff path.

He had been pinned by a fallen rock, and the Coastguard helicopter was called to help in a daring rescue as stormy weather closed in.

A spokesperson from the Coastguard said: "Coastguard rescue teams are trained and equipped to undertake rope rescues but Friday's rescue of a faller near St Alban's Head was a little unusual.

"The gentleman involved was 300 feet below the coastal path in an inaccessible area.

"While walking with a friend some way down from the top of the cliff, the ground gave way under him and he was pinned with a rock.

"Fortunately, his friend was able to make a 999 call to emergency services on a mobile.

"When St Alban's and Swanage Coastguard Rescue Teams arrived on scene they were joined by other rescue specialists from Dorset Fire and Rescue and the South Western Ambulance Service.

"The Coastguard Rescue Helicopter from Solent was needed to winch the rescuers down to the casualty, as well as Dorset Fire and Rescue's hydraulic lifting equipment. "Ten rescue personnel were taken down to the casualty during the operation to extract the man.

"The Coastguard Rescue Helicopter returned to winch the casualty and their winchman up and the casualty was transferred to Dorset County Hospital.

"After the casualty was quickly transferred to hospital there were nine people down the cliff and a significant amount of equipment to be lifted to safety.

"The weather was changing and a lightning storm hit the area.

"Two of the Coastguard Rescue Team members made their way up to the top with ropes and the Coastguard rescue helicopter from Solent was used to bring the other people back up along with the equipment by 11.20pm."

It is estimated that around 60 people were involved in the rescue.