A PENSIONER was transported by lifeboat after breaking her ankle in a "deep ravine" at Barton on Sea.

Members of Lymington Coastguard Rescue Team arrived at the scene off Marine Drive East and were soon joined by their counterparts from Southbourne.

The casualty, who was in her 70s, was treated by paramedics before being placed on a stretcher.

Accompanied by an ambulance technician she was put aboard Mudeford RNLI lifeboat and taken to Mudeford Quay, where a waiting ambulance transported her to Poole General Hospital.

Details of the rescue operation have been posted on the Southbourne Coastguard Facebook page.

The post says: "Once on scene we liaised with Lymington CRT who confirmed the casualty’s position to be some way off the road and in a deep ravine.

“Together we provided first aid and packaged the casualty into a stretcher.

“After considering all options of extraction, the safest way was deemed to be by RNLI lifeboat. Ambulance crew arrived on scene at the same time as the Mudeford lifeboat, which held off while an assessment was made.

“With the assessment complete, the casualty was loaded on board the lifeboat and transported to Mudeford Quay for onward transport by ambulance to hospital."