TWO helicopters were deployed to rescue a climber that had fallen down a cliff near the Anvil Point Lighthouse at the weekend.

A man, who was climbing with a group, fell eight metres down the cliff face on Saturday morning (July 12).

The Swanage Coastguard team, which was supported by a coastguard rescue helicopter from Lee-on-the-Solent, the Devon Air Ambulance, the South Western Ambulance Service and the Dorset and Somerset Critical Care team, jumped into action after arriving on the scene.

The coastguard rescue helicopter lowered their winch to treat the man before lifting him on top of the cliff to hand him over to the critical care team.

“Having been assessed, the Devon Air Ambulance flew on to Southampton hospital. The coastguard team then ensured the remaining climbers returned to the top safely,” a Swanage Coastguard spokesperson said.