Walker airlifted to hospital with 'hypothermia' after camping overnight (From Bournemouth Echo)

Walker airlifted to hospital with 'hypothermia' after camping overnight

11:58am Friday 8th February 2013 in News By Jim Durkin

A RAMBLER was airlifted to hospital suffering with suspected hypothermia after camping out overnight on the Purbeck coast in plunging temperatures.

Emergency services scrambled to the Purbeck coast near Dancing Ledge, Swanage, after receiving reports Thursday lunchtime.

The 25-year-old man had been walking the South West Path the day before, when he started to feel ill. According to Swanage Coastguard Search and Rescue Team, the man decided to set up a small tent to sleep off his illness on Wednesday night.

But temperatures plunged to just above freezing, with the Met Office confirming gusts of up to 30mph.

By Thursday lunchtime the man’s condition had deteriorated, leading to a member of the public reporting his condition to rangers at Durlston Country Park.

This sparked a rescue operation involving coastguards, the Lee-on-Solent helicopter, South Western Ambulance and Dorset Police.

Rescuers eventually found the stricken walker between Swanage and Dancing Ledge.

He was airlifted to Poole, where paramedics were standing by to transfer him to Poole Hospital. It is thought he will make a full recovery.

A Coastguard spokesman told the Daily Echo: “As far as we understand he was camping near Dancing Ledge. It was very, very cold on Wednesday night.

“If you do decide to camp out in very cold conditions you have to ensure, not only do you have adequate equipment, you also have adequate clothing and means to stay warm and well fed.

A Met Office spokesman said: “The temperature did not drop below freezing but the wind would have made it feel much lower.”