A MAN fell approximately 40ft from a cliff at Hengistbury Head yesterday afternoon.

Emergency services rushed to the beauty spot shortly after 12noon following reports of the incident.

A spokesperson for South Western Ambulance Service confirmed it was called at 12.08pm and that the man had been airlifted to Southampton General Hospital.

“We were called at 12.08pm. A male in his 40’s had fallen and sustained a chest injury,” she added.

“He was conscious and complained of shoulder and rib pain. He had possibly fallen from up to 40ft.”

Elsewhere, coastguards were called to help a sailing vessel which had run aground at high water on the hook sands outside of Poole Harbour.

Two of the crew were taken to safety by an RNLI training vessel in the area.

The vessel, named ‘Oggy Oggy’, was monitored through the day until the tide rose enough to float it again.

There was no damage caused the sailing boat.

The incident took place at around noon.