Cheddar Gorge

A climber was airlifted from a crag after a fall on a route in the Cheddar Gorge, Somerset, yesterday.

Members of the Avon and Somerset Search and Rescue Team were called to help the man who fell about 15m (50ft) while attempting a climb in Heart Leaf Bluff just before 12.20pm on Saturday. A Coastguard helicopter airlifted the climber, who suffered spinal injuries, to Frenchay Hospital, Bristol.

However, it is understood the man, from Bristol, will be discharged from hospital later today.

Fire crews from Bridgwater, Street and Cheddar also attended the incident, along with police and paramedics. The road through the gorge was closed to enable the rescue operation to take place.

The climber, who has not been named, was placed in a stretcher and winched into the Portland Coastguard helicopter from a position about 120m (400ft) up on the limestone crags.

Weather on the south-facing route was described as good at the time of the fall. The man was with four other climbers when he fell. His companions were helped to safety after the accident.

Heart Leaf Bluff has more than 80 recognised routes, ranging from Difficult up to E6 6b.