A Fishermans Tale

[Afishionado]

 

Two anglers saved from cliff base

Two anglers were rescued from the bottom of 20m-high (66ft) cliffs after being cut off by the incoming tide.

The pair had to be winched to safety by the coastguard from the base of the cliffs at Kimmeridge in Dorset.

 

The rescuers were alerted to their plight by a weak and broken radio message sent by a mystery caller on Saturday night.

 

A coastguard spokesman said the rescued men, who were uninjured, were lucky to have survived.

 

Dangerous coastline

 

"If they had not been sighted by the first informant, at the very least they would have spent half the night in this inhospitable area.

 

"At worst they might have lost their lives," he added.

 

"We would warn members of the public about wondering the inhospitable and sometimes dangerous stretches of coastline especially while the tide is coming in and the day drawing to a close.

 

"Even if people in difficulties are spotted rescues are significantly harder in the dark."

 

Rocky waters

 

Portlands Coastguard received a message at 2120 BST which said: "Broad Bench... Not a vessel...At risk...". Nothing more was heard.

 

Broad Bench is a stretch of rocks at Kimmeridge, known as an area of poor radio and mobile phone communication.

 

Coastguard officers were sent to the area where they found the two people surrounded by the sea.

 

Because the shallow, rocky water was too dangerous for the lifeboat to approach, rescuers winched the two to safety.

 

Mad Mike