Parachutist caught on cliff-face

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The man was clinging to the rock face for half an hour

A man was rescued after being left clinging to a sheer cliff face when his parachute snagged on rocks while base jumping in south Devon.

A rescue helicopter and coastguard team were called to Beer Head, near Sidmouth on Monday morning.

Coastguards said the man, aged 21, from Hertfordshire, was trapped 200ft (61m) down the cliff and was eventually lowered uninjured to the beach below.

Base jumping involves leaping from high fixed objects, with a parachute.

Maddy Davey, Portland Coastguard watch officer, said: "The man was very fortunate that there were other solo jumpers in the vicinity and that they were able to raise the alarm.

"The Beer Coastguard Rescue Team lowered their cliff man down a sheer and crumbly cliff face to rescue the man who was lucky enough to have found foot and hand holds on the cliff."

The base jumper is believed to have been blown into the cliff face by a gust of wind.

Ms Davey said in March 1996 an almost identical incident at Beer Head left a base jumper who crashed into the cliff face with serious injuries.