Emergency services were called to rescue a man who had fallen as he attempted to climb along the rock face at Winspit Quarry near Worth Matravers.
The incident at the remote Purbeck location, happened just before 1 pm on Saturday 9th July 2022.
Crews go to the aid of a climber at Winspit Quarry
Large multi-agency response
The large multi-agency response included the Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance, coastguard teams from St Albans and Swanage, fire crews from Swanage, Westbourne and Poole, South Western Ambulance Service and Dorset Police.
Swanage Coastguard reported:
“A climber had fallen, landing on their feet causing leg and possible spinal injuries. The teams worked together to stretcher the climber to an ambulance and on to hospital.”
Although the air ambulance attended, the man was able to be driven to hospital by road ambulance.
Swanage Fire Station were called to several incidents on the Saturday
“I am awake now in hospital after surgery on my back”
Following his fall from about 15 metres, the climber thanked the emergency services for rescuing him from the difficult to access location on such a hot day. He posted on social media:
“Just to say a massive thank you today. I am awake now in hospital after surgery on my back. Brilliant job, thank you so much.”
The fire was quickly put out along the railway embankment
Busy weekend for emergency services
This was one of many callouts over the weekend in Purbeck for the emergency services.
Railway embankment fire
Earlier that day, Swanage Fire Station was called to a fire on the railway embankment at Harmans Cross. On arrival, the crew found a 100 metre stretch of hedgerow and undergrowth alight alongside the railway line. The fire was extinguished using two hose reel jets and beaters
Then later in the evening they were called out to Studland.
Swanage Fire Station reported:
“Unfortunately near the end of the evening we had another shout up in Studland dealing with barbecues which were in an unsafe location due to the nearby heathland.”
With the number of emergency callouts across Purbeck over the hot weekend., Swanage Coastguard was disappointed to discover a parked car blocking an emergency access gate, despite earlier pleas for sensible parking this summer.
Two vehicle incidents on Sunday
The challenges continued into Sunday 11th July 2022 with two vehicle incidents in the early morning on the A351 Wareham Road.
Poole Fire crew was called to a lorry on fire near Holton Heath, while Dorset Police attended a nearby road traffic collision involving a crane that had overturned. Both incidents resulted in closing the main road for several hours.
Poole Fire Station was called to a lorry on fire near Holton Heath on the Sunday
