News

Rescuers had to abseil 100ft to help winch two walkers and their dog to safety after they became trapped and unable to move in a mud bank on cliffs between Folkestone and Dover.

In freezing temperatures, Dover Coastguard and Kent Fire and Rescue line unit found the pair and their small dog at cliffs near the Hill Top Café on the old Dover Road near Capel Court Lighthouse, at Capel Le Ferne.

Kent Police alerted the marine emergency service at just before 5.00 pm (2 January) after receiving an emergency call that a man and a young woman were trapped on the cliffs. The air temperature was registering 1 degree Celsius at the time.

Throughout the incident Dover Rescue Co-ordination Centre talked by telephone to the 16-year-old girl who was in an extremely distressed state.

She was brought up the cliff cold and exhausted at around 6.15 pm and taken to the William Harvey hospital.

Senior Watch Manager Peter Legg said: "We would continue to warn about remaining in exposed areas in very cold temperatures. Hypothermia can disorientate the hardiest and it slows reactions and can induce violent, uncontrollable shivering.

"If you're going to take a walk along our cliff tops in the coming days ensure you have enough layers on and a quick way of contacting someone if you get into difficulty," he warned.