An unconscious seven-year-old had to be airlifted to hospital after being recovered from the sea.

Crews from Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance, Lulworth Coastguard, Wyke Coastguard, Coastguard Helicopter Rescue, and the ambulance service were tasked to Durdle Door shortly before 3pm yesterday (August 7).

The child had been pulled from the water unconscious and was airlifted directly to A&E at Dorset County Hospital, Dorchester.

A spokesperson for the South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust (SWASFT) said: “We were called at 14.41hrs to an incident in the Durdle Door area.

"We sent a first responder, an air ambulance and a double-crewed land ambulance, and a helicopter from the Maritime and Coastguard Agency also responded.

"We conveyed one patient to Dorset County Hospital by air ambulance”.

A female suffering from high blood pressure was airlifted by the Coastguard helicopter from the beach to an awaiting ambulance at the top of the car park.

A third casualty also received assistance after collapsing on the steps leading up from Man O’ War Bay and was helped back to the top car park.

Crews from the Coastguard Rescue teams were able to return to base at 6.25pm - after almost four hours at the scene.