Tourists safe after cliff rescue

A climber is helped to the top of the cliff

Two American tourists have been rescued after getting into difficulties at the Giants Causeway.

The men, both United States Marines, became stranded on cliffs after leaving a coastal path and starting to climb in an area called the Chimney Stack.

The tourists, who both come from New Jersey, were winched to safety up the remaining 100 feet of cliff.

Members of the Coastguard service from Coleraine and Ballycastle were involved in the operation.

Coastguard spokesman Sean McCarry said one of the climbers was in a more difficult position than the other.

"We had to use different techniques for extracting him than for the first man," he said.

You feel fairly safe until you get about half-way Rescued marine

A new harness was attached to the second man and he was assisted to the top of the cliff.

Meanwhile, tourists had gathered to watch the rescue operation.

Safely back on solid ground, one of the marines spoke of their ordeal.

"You feel fairly safe until you get about half-way, then you realise that there is no more stalling. All there is, is grass and roots and dirt," he said.

"Therefore, when you look back down, you realise there's no going back down either, so you either wait there and try to get some help from there, or you go to the top.

"We used our flyer that they gave us with the emergency number on it and raised the coastguard."

Sean McCarry said the operation had been "perfect, textbook-wise".

"It was a very good, well-run rescue and I give my congratulations to the Coastguard teams that were here. They did an absolutely excellent job," he said.

"The men are very happy to be on terra firma, on top of the ground instead of half-way down."

The National Trust which owns the area, has appealed for people to be careful at the Giant's Causeway and urged visitors to Northern Irelands' tourist attractions not to stray from designated paths.