Man (69) escapes with minor scratches after 15ft fall from Hordle Cliff at Milford

A 69-YEAR-OLD man had to be rescued by coastguards after falling over the cliff at Milford on Sunday night.

The alarm was raised around 7pm, with reports the casualty had plunged about 15ft and was stuck below the cliff edge by the main Hordle Cliff car park, off the B3058 Cliff Road.

Lymington and Southbourne coastguard rope rescue teams responded, along with paramedics and police. Lighting rigs were set up as daylight faded to help the rescue effort which took about two-and-a-half hours.

A rope technician was lowered with a stretcher to the man, from Eastleigh, who was brought back up and handed over to medics.

The casualty was taken by ambulance to Southampton General Hospital as a precaution, according to a Hampshire police spokesperson who said he had suffered minor scratches.