Climber airlfited to hospital with serious injuries after fall at Lydstep Headland (From Western Telegraph)

Climber airlfited to hospital with serious injuries after fall at Lydstep Headland

11:17am Tuesday 15th January 2013 in News

A 28-YEAR-OLD man was airlifted to Morriston Hospital in Swansea by an RAF rescue helicopter, after he fell around 40 feet while climbing on Lydstep Headland, yesterday (Monday).

The man, who was seriously injured in the fall, had been climbing with two others on a route called Rock Idol in Mother Carey's Kitchen - one of Pembrokeshire's best climbing spots - known as The Great Wall.

The fall happened late afternoon when, around 30 minutes into the climb, the man fell from the cliff into a rock pool before his rope could be pulled tight.

One of the other climbers sustained a shoulder injury trying to get the injured man from the sea and the third climber helped both to safety before raising the alarm.

Police were the first to arrive at the scene with the police helicopter. Tenby and St Govan's Coastguard Rescue Teams were also called, as was ARCC Kinloss for rescue helicopter support, Tenby ambulance and the town's all weather lifeboat, Hadyn Miller. Tenby Lifeboat's 'Y' boat and crew were assessing the condition of the injured climbers at the cliff base, when rescue helicopter 169 from RAF Chivenor arrived.

It was decided hold off the other services, while the RAF helicopter crew recovered the seriously injured climber. This was done quickly, and due to concern for the seriously injured man, Rescue 169 left for Morriston Hospital.

Tenby Lifeboat's 'Y' boat crew were able to recover the man with the injured shoulder and he was taken to Withybush Hospital.