A MAN that died after falling from a cliff was a climber, emergency services have confirmed.

The 69 year old, from Milton Keynes, was pronounced dead by paramedics after falling from Guillemot Ledge near to Langton Matravers.

Two helicopters, lifeboats and three cliff rescue teams all scrambled to the area on Saturday, September 17. 

Lifeboats from Swanage were launched at 4.47pm, followed by a coastguard helicopter and an air ambulance, and arrived at the scene eight minutes later. 

Crew from the inshore lifeboat assessed the casualty, when it was decided they would be quickly evacuated on a stretcher to an all-weather lifeboat.

Cliff rescue teams from Swanage, St Albans and Kimmeridge were arriving, and, shortly afterwards, a Dorset and Somerset air ambulance flew overhead and landed on the lower ledge of Dancing Ledge 

Tom Burn, who had been climbing on a nearby ledge, said the incident was "tragic" but praised the emergency services for their handling of the situation.

He said the helicopter pilot showed 'amazing skill' to 'land on the lower platform at Dancing Ledge'.

He said: "We had just climbed up onto the next ledge up and it landed where we had been just a few minutes earlier."

Officers from Dorset Police attended the incident to assist other emergency services and aren't treating his death as suspicious.

A spokesperson for Dorset Police said: "His next of kin have been informed and our thoughts are with the man’s family and loved ones at this difficult time."

The air ambulance and lifeboats made their way back to Swanage to be met by police while the coastguard teams made sure that other climbers in the area and the scene were safe.  

A second climber from the group was brought aboard the all-weather boat to be checked over. 

A spokesperson for Swanage Coastguard said: "Rescue teams were tasked to Guillemot ledge near dancing ledge after a climber had been reported fallen, along with two helicopters, Dorset Police and South Western Ambulance.

"Sadly the climber had not survived the fall. Our thoughts are with all those involved."

A spokesperson for the RNLI’s Swanage Lifeboat team said: “Our thoughts are with the casualty's family and friends at this time.”