Rescue teams respond after person stranded on cliffs at Hastings Country Park

A young man was rescued after becoming stranded on cliffs at Ecclesbourne Glen in Hastings Country Park as the tide began to rise. Emergency services were called late on Tuesday afternoon after reports that a person was stuck on the cliffs near the beauty spot between Hastings and Fairlight. Specialist rope rescue teams from HM […]

A young man was rescued after becoming stranded on cliffs at Ecclesbourne Glen in Hastings Country Park as the tide began to rise.

Emergency services were called late on Tuesday afternoon after reports that a person was stuck on the cliffs near the beauty spot between Hastings and Fairlight.

Specialist rope rescue teams from HM Coastguard stations in Bexhill, Hastings and Rye Bay were all dispatched to the scene amid concerns the incident could turn into a complex cliff rescue.

Volunteers from Pett Level Independent Rescue Boat were also tasked and launched quickly after being alerted by the Coastguard at around 4.28pm.

The rescue boat crew located the casualty from the water after he made himself visible from the cliff face. After an initial assessment, the young man was able to carefully descend the cliff before being taken aboard the lifeboat.

He was then transported back to the boathouse at Pett Level where Coastguard teams carried out welfare checks and ensured he received food and drink.

According to rescuers, the casualty had become trapped as the tide was coming in and had made the “sensible decision” to call for help after realising he was unaware of the local tide times.

The incident involved teams from Bexhill, Hastings and Rye Bay Coastguard units working alongside the Pett Level rescue boat in what was described as a successful multi-agency response.

After the casualty was safely recovered and assessed, all teams were stood down.

Coastguard crews often warn visitors to the cliffs and coastline around Hastings Country Park to check tide times and be aware of changing conditions before exploring the shoreline.