Man 'a finger's grip away from plunging to death' before cliff rescue

A walker who was rescued from a cliff face in Arbroath was “a finger’s grip away” from plunging to death, the Coastguard has said.

Rescuers rushed to help the man at Seaton Cliffs, who was clinging on around 32ft from the top on Sunday evening.

The man, described as being “cold and tired”, was said to have been in a “desperate situation”, as his walking companion called 999.

Teams from Arbroath, Dundee and Stonehaven were sent to the scene at Dickmont’s Den, alongside RNLI Arbroath Lifeboats and search and rescue helicopters from Inverness.

However, a helicopter rescue was deemed to be too dangerous due to the downdraft, which could have had enough force to knock the man from his position.

The teams instead opted to gear up and carry out a technical rope rescue and the man was then safely recovered.

David Kerr, senior coastal operations officer, explained how quickly a difficult situation can arise.

“It was a close call – he was struggling to hold on, and it was a long way to fall,” he said.

“The teams knew they had to get to him and quickly. It was a tough rope rescue in darkness on a steep and crumbling cliff.

“It goes to show how quickly a nice winter walk can turn sour, one decision and suddenly the man found himself gripping on for life. It really can happen that easily and to anyone.”

Kerr urged people to stay well back from cliffs, as well as outlining the importance of being prepared.

He said: “They were well prepared with the right gear and fully charged mobile phones – they did the right thing in calling for help.

“The cliffs in that area are particularly loose and it can be very easy to end up in a difficult situation.

“So we do ask people to stay well back, the cliffs around the UK are continually eroding and can become unsteady at any time.”

Safety tips from HM Coastguard:

Make sure that you are aware of your surroundings.
Stay on official paths, whether they are temporary or permanent and take notice of warning signs.
If you see a crack in a cliff, don’t be tempted to take a closer look to investigate or take pictures.
Make sure that you are properly equipped for walking along coastal paths. In particular remember to wear sturdy shoes or boots and check the weather forecast and tidal times before you set out.
Carry a mobile phone, and tell someone where you are going and what time you will be home.
Do not attempt to climb up or down cliffs.
Do not attempt to climb cliffs as a short cut back to the top and do not attempt to self-rescue you or your dog if you get into difficulty.
If you find yourself in trouble, call 999 and ask for the Coastguard.