Three ‘seriously hurt’ after jumping off 200ft CLIFFS into sea at Durdle Door as crowds cleared for choppers to land
TWO helicopters have landed at a Dorset beauty spot this afternoon after three people were seriously hurt ‘tombstoning’ from a 200-foot limestone arch into the sea.
Emergency services rushed to Durdle Door and the beach has been closed after visitors – none of whom knew each other – climbed the ancient arch and plunged into the water below.
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One of the men has been airlifted to hospital.
The trio were all tombstoning when they suffered their injuries.
The first incident took place at around 3.45pm with the emergency services rushing to the scene following a call from an eye-witness.
He was lifted off the sand and rushed 50 miles to Southampton General Hospital by air ambulance.
The second man, who suffered his injuries at around 4.30pm, received care at the scene and is believed to have broken his ankle.
The nature of the third casualty’s injuries is not yet known but the coastguard have confirmed his accident occurred shortly before 5pm.
Footage circulating on Snapchat this evening shows a man standing at the top of the huge arch as crowds sitting on the beach jeer.
The man then drops into the water below.
However, it’s not known if the footage was shot today, or during an earlier spell of good weather.
Dorset Police officials said in a statement: “Officers are appealing to the public to stay away from Durdle Door as emergency services are in attendance to deal with a number of casualties.
“Police were called at 3.43pm on Saturday to a report of concern for the safety of people who were jumping off the cliff into the sea.
“Officers are at the scene to assist the ambulance service, HM Coastguard and the RNLI with clearing the area.
“Three people have sustained serious injuries and are being treated by the ambulance service.”
Chief Inspector Claire Phillips of the county’s police force said: “We have had to close the beach at Durdle Door to allow air ambulances to land.
“As a result, we are evacuating the beach and the surrounding cliff area.
“I am urging people to leave the area to enable emergency services to treat the injured people.”
Thousands of people visited the Jurassic coastline today amid relaxed lockdown laws as temperatures soared.
An image posted on social media by Purbeck Police shows huge crowds gathered between two helicopters.
A second photograph shows beach-goers heading away from the sand and back to their cars.
Officers warned visitors away in a Facebook post earlier this afternoon – and said: “The arch of Durdle Door is approximately 200 feet in height.
“Hitting water from that height can be critical.
“This is further compounded by tides, currents and altering depth of the sea bed.
“It is not an appropriate location for this type of activity.”
PCs have now shut roads around the area to stop any more visitors trying to get to the beach.
Brits around the country flocked to beaches and parks today to enjoy scorching 28C temperatures.
While lockdown restrictions are set to be eased from Monday, police have warned that meeting up in groups remains forbidden as pals were pictured meeting up in large groups in the Saturday sunshine.
Dorset has been particularly busy today.
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Beaches in Bournemouth and Poole were packed with visitors, while huge queues of cars waited to park at Durdle Door.
Photographers also captured huge crowds at the Purbeck beach earlier today.
Yesterday, paramedics, police and coastguard officials rushed to prestigious Sandbanks in Poole after two people almost drowned.
The pair had been dragged out into deep water by a rip tide.
A passing member of the public and an off-duty police officer rescued both casualties.
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