The cliffs of Fairhead, scene of the rescue. Photo: Eric Jones CC-BY-SA-2.0
A climber was rescued after getting stuck on a sea-cliff in a force-nine gale.
Two Coastguard rescue teams, the Prestwick Coastguard helicopter and a Royal National Lifeboat Institution boat went to the aid of the cragfast climber at Fairhead, Ballycastle, in County Antrim.
The Maritime and Coastguard Agency released dramatic footage taken by the helicopter’s night-vision camera of the trapped person being helped to safety by rescuers.
The MCA said the rescue was difficult and complicated. It said it received a report about 11.30pm on Tuesday that a climber was in trouble at the site, which has more than 400 named routes, ranging as high as E9 difficulty.
Ballycastle and Coleraine Coastguard Rescue Teams and Redbay RNLI all-weather lifeboat were sent to the scene along with the UK Coastguard search and rescue helicopter based at Prestwick.
Daniel McAuley, station officer for Ballycastle Coastguard Rescue Team said: “Two climbers had started climbing the cliff at around 5pm and when the winds started to pick up, the position of the ropes they were using for support moved.
“Luckily, one of the climbers managed to get the top and raise the alarm at a local farmhouse nearby. The occupants of the farmhouse quickly alerted one of the local Coastguard team members who called the job into the Belfast Coastguard operations centre.
“A combination of working in darkness, the instability of the cliff edge and the 44-knot winds meant that we had to set up 30m away from the edge of the cliff to make sure the equipment was secure.
“We were very grateful to the Belfast Coastguard operations centre for co-ordinating the response and for the Coastguard helicopter and the RNLI lifeboat, who shone their lights on the climber and our operational work so we could work safely.
“Without their vital support, our jobs would have been made all the more difficult. This is a great example of how these teams worked brilliantly together under challenging circumstances to rescue the climber. Thankfully, he did not require any medical attention or treatment after being rescued.
“The climbers did the right thing by calling the Coastguard as soon as they got into difficulty. Unfortunately, they got caught out by the change in the wind conditions. We’re just glad they’re safe and well now.”
