A man who parachuted off the top of Swyre Head near Durdle Door in Dorset, received serious injuries to his legs when he hit the cliff part way down.
Emergency services were alerted to the incident at 8.40 am on Saturday 8th October 2022 by the man, who despite breaking both legs, was still able to call 999.
Weymouth inshore lifeboat crew were among the first to reach the injured base jumper
High adrenaline sport of base jumping
The high adrenaline sport of base jumping is when a person jumps off a fixed object like a bridge, building or cliff, using a parachute with the intention of landing safely.
Weymouth Lifeboat Station reported:
“Weymouth inshore lifeboat, along with the air ambulance, was tasked by the coastguard to an injured man on the beach at Durdle Door with significant injuries, who had himself called 999.
“The man was a base jumper who crash landed on the beach and unfortunately sustained serious injuries to his legs.
“The volunteer lifeboat crew started attending to him on the beach before handing over to the medics on the air ambulance.”
The coastguard teams assisted the Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance to land safely on the beach
Air ambulance landed on Scratchy Bottom Beach
The Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance landed on Scratchy Bottom Beach below the cliff at Swyre Head.
Fortunately due to the time of the year the beach wasn’t busy, making it much easier for the paramedics to reach the injured man quickly.
Also called to help were the coastguard helicopter from Lee on Solent and an ambulance car from South Western Ambulance Service Trust (SWAST), as well as coastguard teams from Lulworth and Kimmeridge.
Due to his serious injuries, the man was helicoptered to Southampton General Hospital, which has a major trauma centre
“Airlifted to Southampton General Hospital”
Lulworth Coastguard reported:
“The team arrived at Durdle Door in time to assist a SWAST paramedic in locating the casualty and carrying rescue and medical equipment to the scene – a 10 minute walk along the beach.
“An air ambulance also alerted to the incident, had landed on the beach at Scratchy Bottom and were with the casualty when we arrived.
“The casualty who had suffered severe leg injuries was treated at the scene and stretchered to the helicopter before being airlifted to Southampton General Hospital.”
