Man crawls nearly a mile along Dorset coast with broken leg

An man had to crawl for almost three hours with a broken leg to find help after slipping whilst walking on a beach in Dorset.

Tim Robinson fell while walking in Seatown near Lyme Regis, after breaking his leg on a rocky path.

He crawled three-quarters of a mile in the darkness before he was discovered by his wife, who had gone looking for him.

She raised the alarm and the West Bay Coastguard Rescue Team and RNLI Lyme Regis lifeboat found the couple, who live near Derby.

He was taken aboard the lifeboat and ferried to a waiting ambulance at Lyme Regis harbour which took him to Dorset County Hospital in Dorchester.

Mr Robinson, a full-time member of the Territorial Army, said: "I just slippedon a rock and have two fractures of the right leg. Everyone who helped me was just terrific."

RNLI helmsman Jon Broome, who was in charge of the lifeboat, said Mr Robinson appeared to have used sticks to "help him stagger and crawl" along the shore.

The Coastguard urged people to remember to take a fully charged mobile phone, warm clothing, sturdy footwear and water, and to check the weather and tides before heading to the coast.

Jake Lanning, rescue officer for West Bay Coastguard, told ITV News: “The casualty had been walking over rocks at the western end of the beach, but had slipped and fallen sustaining injuries to his lower right leg.

“With no means of calling for help, the 54 year old man dragged himself off the rocks back onto the beach and then crawled in the darkness towards Seatown.

“Working with the RNLI Crew, the Coastguard Officers stabilised the casualties leg with splints and fracture straps, and kept the casualty warm and in good spirits. As the Coastguard rescue helicopter was not available due to fog, evacuation via the Lifeboat to Lyme Regis was deemed as being the best option for getting the casualty the quickest onward medical care.”