An angler who suffered severe hand injuries in a fall onto rocks was rescued in a joint operation by Minehead’s two RNLI lifeboats.

The 29-year old, from Weymouth, was trying to get to Selworthy Sands, which lie at the foot of 800-foot cliffs, for a morning’s fishing.

One of the only access points to the beach is via a fixed rope leading down a gully next to Hurlestone Point.

But as the man reached the bottom of the rope he slipped and fell just over a metre but badly injured his hand on a sharp rock as he tried to break his descent.

After his friend called 999 for help, Minehead’s Atlantic 85 and D class lifeboats launched and quickly located him. 

Two of the volunteer crew swam ashore to assess his injuries.

He was then taken off the rocky beach by the D class, transferred to the Atlantic 85 and quickly returned to Minehead and handed over to a waiting ambulance crew.

Crew member Jim Whittaker said the man had been highly relieved when rescue arrived.

“The bottom part of the rope is almost permanently wet and he simply lost his grip and his hand went down onto a very, very sharp rock,” he said.

“The injured hand was absolutely useless and he realised there was no way he was going to be able to climb back up the way he came down.”