The Coastguard helicopter in action. Photo: Robby Norman/MCA
Two men were injured yesterday after falling from sea cliffs near Torquay.
The two were part of a party of five coasteering instructors recce-ing routes at Long Quarry Park, Anstey’s Cove. A Coastguard helicopter airlifted the two from the cliff, along with a rescuer who was injured in the incident.
The drama began at 1.40pm on Monday following a 999 call from two of the group who had swum across the bay, on the Devon coast, to raise the alarm.
A spokesperson for the Maritime and Coastguard Agency said: “It was reported that five instructors were considering locations for coasteering courses next year and were reviewing the attractiveness of various areas for routes.
“One male aged 42 slipped and broke his leg. Two further people jumped down to him with a man in his 20s dislocating his knee as he fell.
Coasteering near Porthclais, Pembrokeshire. Photo: Rhys Thomas CC-BYSA-3.0
“Both casualties remained on a rock platform whilst two further people from the group swam across the bay at Anstey’s Cove to summon assistance. Brixham Coastguard scrambled the Coastguard rescue helicopter from Portland, and the Torbay Coastguard Rescue Team was also sent to the area.”
The two coasteerers were winched to safety along with the rescuer, and were taken by ambulance to Torbay Hospital.
Roger Davies, watch manager at Brixham Coastguard said: “Unfortunately we did not know that this group was on the rocks at the time in such a precarious position and in cold weather. Our advice is to keep the Coastguard informed at all times if carrying out such exercises. Fortunately our rescue units were very promptly on scene.”
Coasteering involves moving along a stretch of rocky coastline using a combination of climbing, scrambling, swimming, jumping and diving.
Neil Harris
12 November 2009As someone who uses this location a lot, I am not surprised to see that someone has been injured. I regularly see groups not carrying safety equipment and carrying out bad practice on the jumps and general bad group management . And as a result making it worst for the rest of us within the industry and yet again giving Coasteering a bad name. Do these people not realise that they have a duty of care to the industry as well as themselves and their clients.
I think it shows that if this company has had 2 of their Instructor injured whilst reccing a route that they need to look at their Risk assessments, safety etc...... the whole reason for carrying out a recce is to make sure it is safe??? and if it the report correct, for the instructors not to be carrying a phone and having to swim to get help, yet again shows a poor understanding of safety kit needing to be carried when Coasteering.