A sunbather had a miracle escape from death after a large boulder fell 200ft from a cliff and landed on his stomach as he slept on a beach.
Christopher Toffs, from Seaford, suffered a broken hip and a severe gash in his abdomen in the freak accident.
The lifeboat crew which treated him said the boulder, which was four times the size of a melon, could have killed him.
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Mr Toffs had been kayaking with his wife and three friends on Saturday when they stopped to sunbathe on the beach at Seaford Head.
The 48-year-old was relaxing when a rockfall dislodged several boulders from the cliff at about 2.30pm.
One of Mr Toffs' friends dialled 999 and Newhaven lifeboat, backed by the
coastguard and police helicopters, attended.
Ian Johns, the lifeboat's coxswain, said: "Mr Toffs is a very lucky man to survive such an incident.
"He was just inches away from possible death or severe head injuries.
"I would also like to praise the teamwork of my crew on the beach, Robin Scott, Phill Corsi and Gavin Butcher, and the Solent Coastguard helicopter."
Mr Toffs was assessed by Mr Scott, a trained paramedic, before being winched into the coastguard helicopter and flown to Eastbourne District General Hospital, where he underwent surgery.
Mr Scott said: "Mr Toffs was found to be conscious but in pain where the rock had hit the right side of his abdomen and his pelvis.
"We administered oxygen and cleaned and dressed the wound, immobilised his legs and pelvis, and secured him in a stretcher, in preparation for being winched into the coastguard helicopter for transfer."
Following the incident, health and safety officials were called in to check the stability of the cliffs.
Do you know Mr Toffs or did you see the rockfall? Call The Argus on 01273 544516.
You call that a miracle escape? The miracle escape would have been if it missed him altogether. "Freak but thankfully non-fatal accident" is the phrase that I would be moving towards.
You call that a miracle escape? The miracle escape would have been if it missed him altogether. "Freak but thankfully non-fatal accident" is the phrase that I would be moving towards.
Posted by: melfromhove, hove on 9:52pm Sun 11 May 08
What a horrible thing to happen but, really, with the luck that made you survive, do buy a lottery ticket next weekend, and let me know what your numbers are!!!
What a horrible thing to happen but, really, with the luck that made you survive, do buy a lottery ticket next weekend, and let me know what your numbers are!!!
Posted by: treetoucher, Sssex on 10:56pm Sun 11 May 08
[quote][bold]bob[/bold] wrote:
thats it i suppose they will be closing all undercliff walks down now due to health and safty [/quote] I really hope they dont.
Very unlucky for him to be underneath at that time(hope you make a good recovery!),but please dont let the beaurocrats take it out on the rest of us and start closing even more of the few footpaths,a clearly noticable 'warning,falling rocks-enter at your own risk' sign would be a much better idea.
bob wrote:
thats it i suppose they will be closing all undercliff walks down now due to health and safty
I really hope they dont.
Very unlucky for him to be underneath at that time(hope you make a good recovery!),but please dont let the beaurocrats take it out on the rest of us and start closing even more of the few footpaths,a clearly noticable 'warning,falling rocks-enter at your own risk' sign would be a much better idea.
Posted by: barney rubble, seaford cliffs on 9:15am Mon 12 May 08
I know the boulder that did this, he's a nice chap and this was completely out of character, it's never happened before! He said that he couldn't resist the urge because Mr Toffs had such a silly name. Please don't tar us all with the same brush and close the area!
I know the boulder that did this, he's a nice chap and this was completely out of character, it's never happened before! He said that he couldn't resist the urge because Mr Toffs had such a silly name. Please don't tar us all with the same brush and close the area!
Posted by: Grandio Flute, Worthing on 2:57pm Mon 12 May 08
One time I was sunbathing and a lion fell on me from a rocky outcrop. Fortunately it was a sea-lion so I was not badly maimed but I did have a few nasty prongs from its whiskers. It also shattered every single one of my bones. Barking like sealions do and balancing a rubber ball on his little nose. The rubber ball was four times the size of a melon.
One time I was sunbathing and a lion fell on me from a rocky outcrop. Fortunately it was a sea-lion so I was not badly maimed but I did have a few nasty prongs from its whiskers. It also shattered every single one of my bones. Barking like sealions do and balancing a rubber ball on his little nose. The rubber ball was four times the size of a melon.
Thankfully for Mr. Toffs, the rescue team was more interested in helping him than measuring the boulder. I too would like to know how big the rock was, but could you imagine the medics saying, "stop, no one move anything, we need to measure this rock and snap a picture." Or his friends, "quick, you call for help, I'm going to get some pictures of this and upload them to [bold]flickr[/bold]!"
Thankfully for Mr. Toffs, the rescue team was more interested in helping him than measuring the boulder. I too would like to know how big the rock was, but could you imagine the medics saying, "stop, no one move anything, we need to measure this rock and snap a picture." Or his friends, "quick, you call for help, I'm going to get some pictures of this and upload them to flickr!"
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