Teenager Rescued After Being Stranded At Base Of 100ft Cliff

A teenage girl has been rescued after being stranded at the base of a 100ft cliff at Castlerock on the north coast.

Coleraine Coastguard and emergency services attended the scene on Monday evening, 24 July, after receiving reports from members of the public.

The girl was walking with two boys and another girl when a rapid tide came in.

Three of them swam to safety, however the girl got trapped by the tide. She had to be lifted off the cliff by rope and Chris Lyttle from the Coleraine Coastguard described it as a "major operation".

A specialist rope technician was lowered down the face of the cliff to rescue the teenager. She had been suffering from hypothermia and also swallowed a considerable amount of seawater.

Speaking to BBC Radio Ulster he said: "We had a situation where a very tired and very distressed young girl was trapped at the base of a cliff with a rapidly rising spring tide.

"As she and her Coastguard rescuer left the base to be hauled up to the cliff top, the waves broke over the platform where they had been standing."

The girl was taken to hospital as a precaution.

Sinn Féin MLA Caoimhe Archibald praised the work of the Coast Guard.

She said: "I would like to pay tribute to the work of the teams of Coast Guards who rescued a group of young people at Castlerock and in particular one girl who had become trapped by a fast incoming tide and was clearly exhausted.

"I would urge everyone, especially in the good weather to take care when visiting the north coast. There are several beaches that need particular care given the accessibility and the rate at which conditions, including the tide, may change and catch people out."

(CD/MH)