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Members of the public hamper Coastguard helicopter rescue
A UK Maritime and Coastguard Agency helicopter rescue to bring a man and young girl to safety after they had become stranded on cliffs near Lulworth nearly had to be aborted this afternoon after relatives and passers-by would not stand clear of the helicopter.
Portland Coastguard received the call from a 28 year old male at ten to four this afternoon, reporting that he and a 10 year old girl had been walking along the cliffs at Lulworth and had scrambled up to a point on the cliffs east of Worbarrow Tout where they were unable to get up or down and were stuck.
Portland Coastguard tasked the Lulworth Coastguard Rescue Team and Coastguard Helicopter 106 to the scene to rescue the casualties from the cliff. As the helicopter attempted to manouver above the cliff into a winching position, it became clear that watching members of the public, were ignoring signals to move clear and were in danger of being blown off the cliff top and seriously injured.
Although the helicopter rescue was nearly being aborted due to the problems caused by those attempting to watch the rescue, the helicopter was finally able to winch the casualties and land them safely to the beach.
Portland Coastguard Search and Rescue Mission Controller Dominic Lonsdale said: "The helicopter rescue of two casualties this afternoon nearly had to be aborted when, despite the best efforts of Coastguard Rescue Officers on scene, members of the public and the casualties family refused to clear the area for the helicopter and the rescue had to be put on hold.
"Although it may be tempting to try and get close to an incident or to take photographs of a rescue in progress, the members of the public who hampered the rescue today put their own lives and the two casualties lives at risk by getting in the way."
"It is also worth mentioning that this is the second time this week that the Coastguard helicopter has been tasked to rescue people who have become stranded on the cliffs.
"If you come to the end of a pathway along a beach, do not attempt to climb up cliffs to continue your journey, or you may find yourself in need of rescue. Turn around and go back the way you came."
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