A MAN is lucky to be alive after he was found clinging to the top of a 60ft cliff at a Dorset beauty spot.

Alex Parsons, aged 23, from Weymouth, was discovered hanging by his finger-tips at Osmington Mills.

He had attempted to climb from the beach with a friend but got stuck agonisingly close to the top after the cliff started to crumble.

Rescuers, fearing he was seconds from plummeting on to rocks, opted to use the coastguard helicopter to winch him to safety.

Alex, who was hanging from the outcrop for 30 minutes, said: “I could have probably lasted at least another 15 minutes although my hands and feet were starting to get numb.”

His friend managed to scale the cliff moments before Alex got into trouble.

Alex continued: “We were climbing, I got into difficulty, so we made the decision to get help – it was the safest thing to do in the circumstances.

“I was only about 6ft from the top but it was completely impassable.

“I was very calm, and at no point did I not think everything would be OK. I had a good foothold and handhold but just couldn’t go up or down.”

Alex’s grandfather fell from nearby cliffs in 1949, bouncing all the way down but escaping serious injury.

Alex, who works as a barman, said: “I’ve been in tricky situations before and I’ll probably be in them again. The main thing is to keep calm.”

A Portland Coastguard spokesman said: “This gentleman really was hanging by his fingertips and had the coastguard helicopter not arrived so quickly the outcome could have been very different – he is a very lucky man.”

After getting the all-clear from paramedics, Alex, of Nightingale Drive, Broadwey, thanked his rescuers and headed for the nearest pub.

He said: “I would like to thank all the coastguard guys who came to help. They were brilliant.”

Portland coastguard sector manager Rob Sansom said: “This case highlights the fact that if you think you are in trouble, do not hesitate to dial 999. If in doubt, get the coastguard.

“Even if it ends with us being stood down, it’s a lot better than the possible alternative.”

Coastguards and firefighters rushed to the rocks shortly after receiving a call from a passing walker at 6.45pm on Monday.

A coastguard spokesman said: “He was at least 50ft up.”