A DRAMATIC airborne rescue took place on a west Dorset beach after a man suffered a medical emergency and was at risk from the incoming tide.
A coastguard helicopter from Wales was scrambled to the beach two kilometres east of Charmouth yesterday to rescue the man, who had suffered a broken ankle.
Coastguards from Lyme Regis and West Bay had been called to the scene at around 1.04pm but rescuers and the casualty were in danger of being trapped by the rising water.
"Due to rapidly incoming tide, the casualty was immediately moved to a safer place and initial casualty care was then administered," a spokesman for Lyme Regis Coastguard said.
"Due to the likelihood of the casualty and the rescuers being trapped, the OIC (officer in charge) requested the assistance of the coastguard helicopter, Rescue 187 from St Athan in Wales."
The casualty was carefully ‘packaged’ into a stretcher and the aircraft returned the rescuers and the casualty to Charmouth. The casualty was then transferred to Dorset County Hospital, Dorchester by land ambulance.
"We wish the casualty a speedy recovery," the spokesman added.
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