A PERSON died on Saturday after falling from the cliff near Dancing Ledge in the Isle of Purbeck.  

Two helicopters, lifeboats and three cliff rescue teams all scrambled to the area on Saturday, September 17. 

Lifeboats from Swanage were launched at 4.47pm, followed by a coastguard helicopter and an air ambulance, and arrived at the scene eight minutes later. 

Crew from the inshore lifeboat assessed the casualty, when it was decided they would be quickly evacuated on a stretcher to an all-weather lifeboat.

Cliff rescue teams from Swanage, St Albans and Kimmeridge were arriving, and, shortly afterwards, a Dorset and Somerset air ambulance flew overhead and landed on the lower ledge of Dancing Ledge 

Meanwhile, a second climber from the group was brought aboard the all-weather boat to be checked over. 

Paramedics declared the person had died after the fall. 

The air ambulance and lifeboats made their way back to Swanage to be met by police while the coastguard teams made sure that other climbers in the area and the scene were safe.  

A spokesperson for the RNLI’s Swanage Lifeboat team said: “Our thoughts are with the casualty's family and friends at this time.”