Coastguard airlift injured 'base jumper' from Beachy Head

Coastguard, RNLI and ambulance crews attended the scene after receiving a 999 call at 9.15am.

It is understood a base jumper's parachute did not open fully as they jumped from the cliff.

The casualty was winched by the search and rescue helicopter and taken to Brighton Hospital.

Pictures from East Brighton Park show the helicopter taking off following the incident.

Flags from a nearby football game being played beside where the search and rescue helicopter from Lydd, Kent landed fluttered violently in the wind.

Some people were told to pick up their belongings in anticipation of the strong gusts created by the helicopter.

The coastguard helicopter at East Brighton Park

A spokesman from the coastguard said: "A 999 call was received at 9.15am today reporting an injured person at Beachy Head.

"The Coastguard Rescue Teams from Eastbourne, Birling Gap and Newhaven, the RNLI lifeboat from Eastbourne, the search and rescue helicopter from Lydd and the South East Coast Ambulance Service attended the scene.

"The casualty was winched by the search and rescue helicopter and airlifted to Brighton Hospital where they were passed into the care of medical staff."

It comes after two "stupid" daredevils jumped off a cliff in Peacehaven and parachuted to the seafront below.

In a video caught by a passerby, the men took it in turns to leap off the cliff. Their parachutes open seconds into the free fall, saving them from almost certain death.

Once on the ground, one of the daredevils was heard shouting and celebrating, while the other gathers his parachute and runs towards him.

The pair were seen to hug each other shortly after, marking the successful landing.

The stunt was labelled "insane" and "stupid" by Twitter users, who reacted to the video when it was posted in January.