This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/england/somerset/8502075.stm

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Man badly injured in gorge fall Man badly injured in gorge fall
(about 2 hours later)
A walker has suffered serious spinal injuries after falling in Cheddar Gorge in Somerset. A climber has suffered serious spinal injuries after falling in Cheddar Gorge in Somerset.
Police received reports at 1218 GMT that the man had fallen between 40ft and 50ft (12m to 15m).Police received reports at 1218 GMT that the man had fallen between 40ft and 50ft (12m to 15m).
His injuries are thought to be life-threatening and he has been taken by air ambulance to Frenchay Hospital. The man, from Bristol, who is thought to have life-threatening injuries, was taken by coastguard helicopter to Frenchay Hospital.
BBC reporter Matthew Hill, who was at the scene, said: "I was told he'd fallen 50ft and had been caught in a net but had suspected spinal injuries." He is believed to have been part of a party of five climbers. The other four men were escorted to safety.
He added: "About 40 fire officers were there and the whole gorge had been shut off by the police. Duncan Massey, chief rescue officer with Avon and Somerset Search and Rescue, said: "We were called by the police and the fire brigade to the incident in Cheddar Gorge.
About 40 fire officers were there and the whole gorge had been shut off by the police BBC reporter Matthew Hill
"All the information we had was that a male climber had fallen. I live close to Cheddar Gorge so I was first on the scene.
"The lad was very high up - about 400 feet up the cliff on a location called Heart Leaf Bluff.
"We called for a rescue helicopter and were allocated a coastguard helicopter from Portland which came within 30 minutes, lowered a stretcher and winched him to safety."
BBC reporter Matthew Hill, who was at the scene, said: "I was told he'd fallen 50ft and had been caught in a net but had suspected spinal injuries.
"About 40 fire officers were there and the whole gorge had been shut off by the police.
"I saw the coastguard helicopter hovering above the gorge and lowering a stretcher to the cliff rescue crew."I saw the coastguard helicopter hovering above the gorge and lowering a stretcher to the cliff rescue crew.
"The stretcher swooped in along the line of the cliff and the man was winched off very quickly.""The stretcher swooped in along the line of the cliff and the man was winched off very quickly."