A PERSON was airlifted to hospital after slipping on rocks at Kimmeridge Bay.

The dramatic rescue happened on Thursday afternoon.

Kimmeridge Coastguard received a call from St Alban’s Head Coastguard at 4.45pm to assist a casualty, who had sustained a nasty head injury and was complaining of back pain.

An air ambulance was called to the scene due to the seriousness of the casualty’s injuries.

When the air ambulance arrived, it was forced to land in Kimmeridge Car Park due to the incoming tide and difficult terrain.

A spokesman for Kimmeridge Coastguard said: “Working closely with the critical care team and responders, coastguards provided help with stabilising the casualty, providing comms and liaising between the ambulance crew and coastguard control room.

“On three occasions the casualty, who was securely strapped into a stretcher, had to be moved carefully, sliding the stretcher over the slippery rocks to avoid the incoming tide.

“Having risk assessed the difficult stretcher carry back across rocks and up slippery steps, it was decided that the best means of medical evacuation would be by winch recovery from the coastguard helicopter stationed at Lee on Solent.”

The coastguard helicopter was scrambled and the casualty was winched inside before being taken to the specialist head injury unit at Southampton Hospital.

The coastguard spokesman added: “All in all a good multi-agency job with everyone working well together in a very difficult situation. We wish the person all the best and a speedy recovery.”