A man who slipped from a path on the Isle of Wight on Monday evening, has been rescued 36 hrs after his ordeal began.

On Monday, the 54 year old man from London, slid down a steep slope into thick undergrowth on the south side of the Isle of Wight.  He was rescued this afternoon by a Coastguard rescue team and Coastguard helicopter, after his calls were heard by a dog walker who called 999 and reported his plight to Solent Coastguard.

The Coastguard operations room sent the Ventnor Coastguard Rescue Team to the scene and scrambled the Coastguard helicopter from Lee on Solent.

After an extensive search - made difficult by the nature of the local terrain, the man was eventually spotted by members of the Coastguard team located on a hilltop some distance to the east. The Coastguard helicopter was then able to guide other members to the scene.

He was stabilised by the Coastguard team and then airlifted to St Mary’s hospital by the Coastguard helicopter. He appears to have only sustained cuts and scratches but was suffering from severe dehydration following his ordeal.

Mike O’Sullivan, Solent Coastguard Watch Manager says:

“The 54 year old man from London had been out walking alone along a cliff path on Monday evening when he tripped and slid down a steep slope into dense gorse and brambles covering much of the hillside above Binnell Bay to the west of Ventnor on the Isle of Wight.

He was carrying a mobile phone but was unable to use it to call 999 as this area is a known black spot for poor mobile phone coverage. He was forced to remain entangled in the undergrowth throughout the whole of Tuesday, shouting for help but - due to the remoteness of his location - his calls for help were in vain.

“Fortunately for him, today, his calls were finally heard just after 8.00 am by a local dog walker who called 999 by landline, giving the Coastguard an accurate estimation of the area from which the calls had originated.

“Before setting out on a walk of this type - particularly if by yourself - you should always let someone either at home, or at your holiday accommodation, know where you intend to go and when you expect to return. They can then contact the emergency services if you do not return as expected.

Be careful when walking along cliff paths and always keep to designated paths. Cliff tops can be particularly dangerous when wet.