Coastguard Teams Rescue Two Climbers Stuck on Bedruthan Cliff

It was meant to be a routine training night for HM Coastguard Padstow. Then the call came in.

Two people were stuck part-way up a cliff near Pentire Point, Bedruthan, unable to move up or down. What followed was a multi-agency operation involving four coastguard teams, a rescue helicopter, and the Padstow Lifeboat.

📷Credit: HM Coastguard Padstow

Stuck Below a Loose Overhang

The tasking came through at 1938 hours on Tuesday 26th May. When the Padstow team arrived on scene, they found the pair around 80 feet up a 180-foot cliff face. The casualties had tried to climb up but had run out of options in either direction.

The team began rigging for a technical rope rescue. Polzeath Coastguard, Newquay coastguard search and rescue, and a full-time Coastguard Rescue Officer were tasked and en route.

Coastguard Rescue Helicopter 924 was called in to assess the scene from the air. Padstow Lifeboat was also on scene, providing safety cover from the sea.

📷Credit: HM Coastguard Padstow

Why the Helicopter Couldn’t Lift Them

The casualties were positioned directly below a large overhang of loose rock and slate. A helicopter rescue was ruled out almost immediately. The down-draught from the aircraft was strong enough to risk dislodging the overhang, which could have caused serious injury to the people below.

📷Credit: HM Coastguard Padstow

A Second Rope System Goes In

Once Newquay’s team arrived, a second rope rescue setup was put in place. Cliff technicians from Padstow and Newquay were then deployed down to the casualties.

Padstow Lifeboat had the clearest view of the scene and kept the cliff-top team updated throughout.

The technicians reached the pair, checked them for injuries, and secured them into the rope rescue system. Because the cliff face was unstable, both casualties were lowered all the way down to the beach below, along with the technicians. Once all four were safely on the ground, Rescue Helicopter 924 winched them up into the aircraft.

Back on the clifftop, the casualties were given safety advice and returned to their vehicle.

📷Credit: HM Coastguard Padstow

All Assets Stood Down

All teams were stood down once the operation was complete. The Padstow vehicle was back on station at 2346 hours.

HM Coastguard Padstow described it as great multi-agency work and thanked everyone involved.

If you see someone in difficulty on or near the coast, call 999 and ask for the Coastguard.

📷Credit: HM Coastguard Padstow