A MAN is lucky to be alive after he was found clinging onto cliffs in Dorset by his fingertips.

The alarm was raised at 6.46pm on Monday June 22 and the coastguard helicopter was immediately sent to the scene near Osmington Mills - east of Weymouth.

The crew quickly located the man and winched him to safety onto the coast path. The 23-year-old from Weymouth was checked over by paramedics at the scene but did not require further treatment.

A coastguard spokesman said: "He was climbing up the cliffs from the beach with his friend. His friend made it but he couldn't and got stuck in that precarious position.

"This gentleman really was hanging by his fingertips and had the coastguard helicopter not arrived so quickly the outcome could have been very different - a very lucky man."

After the man was rescued it is reported he was seen to walk off to the nearest pub.

In a separate incident a dog survived after falling nearly 100ft off Peveril Point in Swanage on Sunday June 21.

The white terrier, named Alfie, fell over the edge while walking with his owners. Coastguard officers used cliff rescue equipment to haul the dog back up. He was unhurt after breaking his fall on a ledge half way down the incline.

A Portland Coastguard spokesman said Alfie was "very lucky" and had "licked to death" his rescuer.