Press Notice No: 07-10
Wednesday, January 06, 2010
Posted 22:47 GMT

Just after half past five this evening Humber Coastguard received calls from North East Ambulance Service and Northumberland Fire and Rescue requesting their assistance in the rescue of an angler who had fallen from cliffs at Newbiggin.

The man had been angling from the cliffs near Sandy Bay Caravan Park when they gave way beneath him and he fell the 15 metres onto the beach below, just a few metres from the shoreline.

Humber Coastguard sent Coastguard Rescue Teams with cliff rescue equipment from Newbiggin, Blyth and Amble to the scene. Lifeboats from Newbiggin and Amble were also launched. The intention now is for the teams to work together with fire teams to rescue the casualty from the base of the cliff and take him to the waiting ambulance, where he will be taken to hospital.

Humber Coastguard Watch Manager Mike Puplett said:

Coastguard Rescue Teams on scene estimate that hundreds of tonnes of mud and rock have come away from the cliff side, making this is an incredibly difficult rescue, made worse by the atrocious weather conditions and limited accessibility to the area. With the tide coming in and the weather increasingly poor the Coastguard teams extensive cliff rescue training and our close relationship with our other emergency services will be crucial in effecting a speedy recovering of the casualty.


Posted By: Rosie Tapping

For further details contact:
The Maritime & Coastguard Agency Press Office
023 8032 9401