A walker had a lucky escape after falling and hitting her head while out at Winspit Quarry, sparking a major rescue operation involving almost all local emergency services.
Teams from Swanage and Wareham fire stations, Dorset police, South Western ambulance service, Kimmeridge coastguard and an air ambulance were scrambled to Worth Matravers on Wednesday 28th August 2024.
Winspit Quarry has a rugged beauty, but can be a dangerous place
Reports of a fall from height
There have been several major incidents involving walkers and climbers at Winspit Quarry in the last three years, including the tragic death in June 2024 of 82-year-old grandmother Cattrin Wickens of Poole, who lost her footing on the coastal path and fell 70 feet.
The latest drama began just after 1 pm on Wednesday, when crews from Dorset and Wiltshire fire and rescue service were sent to Winspit Road, Worth Matravers, after reports of a fall from height.
The woman, who fell off a ledge after slipping on a step at the quarry was eventually winched up to the rescue coastguard helicopter and airlifted to Poole Hospital for treatment.
The Coastguard rescue helicopter from Lee on Solent landed next to the quarry
“Lost her footing and fell straight back”
Swanage Fire Station Commander Nick Corben said:
“The lady was going up a high step at Winspit Quarry, lost her footing and fell straight backwards. The ambulance service think she probably fell on her back first but then straight on to her head.
“She didn’t have any signs of back or neck pain and was conscious, but because she had fallen onto her head the ambulance service were reluctant to put her into a road ambulance and take her back up the bumpy track.
“They called in the coastguard helicopter and she was airlifted to hospital. Her injuries were mostly minor, but because of the head injuries the ambulance service didn’t want to take any risks.”
Ambulance and fire vehicles got as close to Winspit as possible on narrow roads
Transferred by stretcher to helicopter
Nick Corben added:
“Our off road appliance was sent to assist the ambulance service and also attending was an engine from Wareham, the Tech Rescue team from Poole, the Coastguard and a specialist ambulance hazard alert response team.
“The lady was transferred by stretcher to the waiting Coastguard Search and Rescue helicopter and then airlifted to Poole hospital. We wish her a speedy recovery.”
Fire vehicles from Wareham, Swanage and Poole were all in attendance
“We wish her a speedy recovery”
Wareham Fire Station also reported:
“One of our fire engines was sent to assist the ambulance service with a medical incident at Winspit.
“Also attending was an engine from Swanage, the Tech Rescue team from Poole, the Coastguard and specialist ambulance hazard and rescue team and the police.
“The person was transferred by stretcher to the waiting Coastguard Search and Rescue helicopter and then airlifted to a nearby hospital. We wish her a speedy recovery.”
The rescue operation involved the Coastguard helicopter, ambulance, fire and police services
The coastguard helicopter was met by an ambulance crew at Whitecliff helicopter landing site and the woman was swiftly transferred to the nearby Poole Hospital
Dorset Police also sent officers
South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust said it was called at 12:53 pm on Wednesday to an incident near Swanage and sent a double-crewed land ambulance, an air ambulance, a rapid response vehicle and an operations officer to the scene.
Dorset Police also sent officers to Winspit Road to assist the other emergency services after being notified that a woman needed medical attention after an accident.
And a spokesperson for HM Coastguard said:
“A woman who was reported to have fallen at Winspit Quarry, near Worth Matravers, was winched up to the HM Coastguard search and rescue helicopter from Lee-on-Solent and transferred to Poole hospital.
“The alarm was raised at about 1.10 pm and St Albans and Kimmeridge Coastguard rescue teams attended to assist Southwestern Ambulance Service and Dorset Fire and Rescue Service at the scene, and Poole Coastguard rescue team assisted with the helicopter landing.”
There are breathtaking views around Winspit, but the terrain can be treacherous
Beautiful views of rugged coastline
The disused limestone quarry at Winspit, on the South West Coast Path, is a popular place to visit with beautiful views of the sea and the rugged coastline.
It was used as a working quarry for Purbeck stone from the 18th century until 1940, serving as a military defence site during the Second World War.
The abandoned quarry, now owned by the National Trust, was used as a filming location for the Disney Star Wars television series Andor.
But filming for the second season was cancelled last year due to concerns that parts of the quarry were unstable and it has since been permanently closed.
Further information
- Keep up with the work of the Coastguard on its website
