Base jumper falls 320 feet on to pebble beach, breaks both legs, but still manages to phone for help
DORSET, ENGLAND: A man who parachuted off the top of Swyre Head near Durdle Door in Dorset hit the rim of the cliff before crash-landing on the pebble beach and receiving several serious injuries on his leg. The extreme jumper had leapt off from a height of 320 ft before the unfortunate accident occured.
Despite dealing with astounding suffering due to his leg injuries, the brave sportsman called 999 to get help. Soon, the beach was surrounded by coastguard teams from Lulworth and Kimmeridge, Dorset and Somerset air ambulance, and a lifeboat crew. There was also a coastguard helicopter from Lee on Solent and an ambulance car from South Western Ambulance Service Trust (SWAST). The injured man was soon rescued from the scene and air-lifted to the nearest hospital for treatment.
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Base jumper who leapt 320ft off Dorset chalk cliff and struck its edge before crash landing on pebble beach calls 999 himself and is flown to hospital with serious leg injuries
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Due to the non-commercial season, it was easier for the officers to reach the bay. "Weymouth inshore lifeboat, along with the air ambulance, was tasked by the coastguard to get an injured man on the beach at Durdle Door with significant injuries, who had himself called 999. The man was a base jumper who crash-landed on the beach and unfortunately sustained serious injuries to his legs. The volunteer lifeboat crew started attending to him on the beach before handing him over to the medics on the air ambulance," as per the words of a spokesman for the Weymouth Life board.
Another spokesperson for the Lulworth Coastguard added that the injured base jumper had 'struck the cliff' on his way to the ground. "The team arrived at Durdle Door in time to assist a SWASFT paramedic in locating the casualty, carrying rescue and medical equipment to the scene, a 10-minute walk along the beach. An air ambulance also alerted to the incident landed on the beach and were with the casualty when we arrived," he said about the incident.
The coastguard confirmed that the person had injured both of his legs severely in his statement, "The casualty who had suffered severe leg injuries was treated at the scene and stretchered to the helicopter before being airlifted to Southampton General Hospital."
Base jumping is a highly dangerous sport of jumping from stationary objects such as buildings, antennas, bridges, and cliffs, using a parachute to descend safely to the ground. The reckless sport is illegal in most states because of the high risk and the chances of failure. However, despite all these reasons, base jumpers continue to cling to the sport because of the thrill it offers.