Today at 10.15am Solent Coastguard tasked SSILB to search for a man in his late 60's, he had been cut off by the tide at Culver Cliff and was clinging to a small alcove in the rock about 35 feet up above the water.

The man used his mobile phone to contact the Coastguard and explain were he was - he was luck as this area is normally a black spot for loss of signal for mobile phones.

SSILB found the man and directed the Bembridge cliff rescue team to his position who had arrived on top of Culver Cliff. On top of the cliff, Bembridge cliff rescue team lowered a coastguard member down to his position, after putting a harness on him he was then lowered in to the Sandown & Shanklin Inshore Lifeboat.

The Gentlemen was cold but other wise unhurt apart from some abrasions to his legs, he was transferred back to our station to be in the warm, checked over and then taken back to his address by the Bembridge coastguard Team.

CLIFF FACE RESCUE IN SANDOWN

Solent Coastguard received a mobile phone call at quarter past ten this morning from the man in his sixties as he was clinging to a small alcove in the rock about 35 feet above the water.

The crew of Sandown and Shanklin Inshore Lifeboat found him and directed the Bembridge Cliff Rescue team who lowered a man down to his position.

The lifeboat took him ashore where he's recovering from minor injuries to his legs.

CLIFF CLIMB MAN RESCUED

By Ross Findon

COASTGUARDS rescued a man in his 60s from cliffs at Culver, near Sandown, this morning (Monday).

The man contacted emergency services just after 10am after becoming disorientated while climbing up a cliff.

He was around 20 to 35ft up when found, following a search by Sandown and Shanklin Inshore Lifeboat and Bembridge Coastguard Rescue Team.

“It was very foggy and not ideal conditions for this activity," said Solent Coastguard watch manager Jennifer King.
“Luckily he was able to call 999 despite being stuck under an overhang.”
She added: “We would recommend that those considering climbing on cliffs undertake climbing training or join a climbing club.
“Solo climbing can be hazardous since, should you have difficulties, it might be difficult to call for help.
“We would also strongly advise that you check weather and tidal conditions before setting out.”

`I HAD TO CLING ON BY MY NAILS`

By Jon Moreno
Friday, February 1, 2008

A PENSIONER and former coastguard has praised the work of rescuers who saved him from plummeting 35ft on to rocks after being left clinging by his fingernails on to cliffs at Culver in Sandown.

The 69-year-old Bembridge man, who does not wish to be named, got stuck under an overhang on the cliff and was cut off by the tide on Monday morning.

The man, a retired radio officer with the merchant navy, contacted emergency services at 10am after becoming disorientated while climbing up the cliff.

He was up to 35ft above the rocks in fog, clinging onto a small alcove, when found by members of the Sandown and Shanklin Inshore Lifeboat and Bembridge Coastguard Rescue Team.

“My plan was to walk from Bembridge and around Culver but I ran out of beach and had to start to climb over rocks. The tide was coming in and found myself about 30ft above the water. I looked back and it seemed like a sheer cliff. I felt alarmed,” he said.
“The one sensible thing I did was to bring my mobile phone, fully charged and with credit. I spent about an hour on the rocks, quite literally hanging on by my fingernails.

“There was a good 35ft drop below me onto the rocks and I was very concerned for my safety.”
A member of the Bembridge Cliff Rescue Team was lowered down from the top of the cliff. He harnessed the man and brought him down to the rescue vessel and taken to the Sandown and Shanklin Inshore Lifeboat unit.

The man was unharmed but suffered minor abrasions to his legs.

“I was very glad to be rescued because it was cold and my fingers were starting to get numb by the time the lifeboat arrived. I have nothing but the highest praise for the rescue team.

“I spent two years as an auxiliary coastguard on the mainland, so I should have known better,” he said.
Solent Coastguard watch manager Jennifer King said: “It was very foggy and not ideal conditions for this activity.

Luckily he was able to call 999, despite being stuck under an overhang.

“We would recommend those considering climbing on cliffs undertake climbing training or join a climbing club. Solo climbing can be hazardous since should you have difficulties it may be difficult to call for help.

“We would also strongly advise you check weather and tidal conditions before setting out.”

A MAN was rescued from a rocky alcove on the Isle of Wight today after he became cut off by the tide.

The man, in his late 60s, was found clinging to a rock a Culver Cliff, 35ft above the water at 10.15am.

Bembridge cliff rescue team strapped him into a harness before lowering the man from the cliff top into the waiting Sandown and Shanklin inshore lifeboat.

The man was then taken to Sandown and Shanklin lifeboat station before being taken back to his home by Bembridge coastguard.

A 69-year-old man has been winched to safety by rescuers after he became stuck on cliffs on the Isle of Wight.

A Pensioner clings desperately to a narrow ledge as a rescuer is lowered down a cliff to save him.

The rambler, in his late sixties, called help on his mobile after scrambling 35 feet up rocks after he was cut of by the incoming tide at Culver Cliff, near Sandown, on the Isle of Wight.

He suffered slight cuts, was assisted by Bembridge coastguards and Sandown & Shanklin Inshore Lifeboat.