A walker cut off by the incoming tide was rescued by a lifeboat crews after attempting to climb a cliff to safety.
The man, in his 30s, walked along the shoreline between Anstruther and Pittenweem and realised he was in danger from the tide and heavy swell. He climbed about 30 feet up cliffs beside Pittenweem Harbour but became exhausted.
When the alarm was raised just after 11.30am, HM Coastguard at Fife Ness was told a man had fallen and was stranded, possibly injured, at the foot of the cliffs.Rescued
Both Anstruther’s lifeboats were launched and the inshore lifeboat with helmsman Alex Purves was there first. Despite a strong gale and heavy swell, the boat got below the rocks from where two crew members were able to go to the man’s rescue.
He was recovered from the cliff face and transferred by the inshore lifeboat to the all-weather lifeboat, which took him to Anstruther Harbour.
The uninjured man was checked over by an East Neuk first responder.Challenging
Lifeboat coxswain Michael Bruce said, “This proved to be a challenging rescue in fairly difficult weather conditions. HM Coastguard at Fife Ness, who co-ordinate rescues of this type, had covered all the bases very quickly and had their cliff rescue team on scene above the casualty ready to take over from the cliff top had my staff on the inshore lifeboat not been able to reach the casualty via the water.
“There are always a wide range of factors that have to be considered when rescuing casualties from the sea and shoreline and we all have our areas of expertise, but working together we are a very formidable team.”