A man was airlifted to hospital after badly breaking his leg while walking at the foot of cliffs.

The 35-year-old slipped on rocks and broke his leg where there was no one around and no mobile signal.

He was only found 45 minutes later when his concerned friend came out looking for him.

But the friend had to walk out to the nearest farm in order to find a mobile signal and contact the emergency services.

The incident took place in Covehurst Bay, Fairlight, near Hastings, at 2.15pm today.

Dover Coastguard called out the Hastings Coastguard rescue team who went to where the man had fallen.

It was felt that to attempt an evacuation by boat would be extremely difficult and painful for the man so the coastguard rescue was requested.

They airlifted the man to the Conquest Hospital, Hastings, where he is now receiving treatment for his injury. Gordon Wise, watch manager at Dover Coastguard, said: “This man was lucky that someone came along and found him, although they both had mobile phones, this particular area has no mobile signal.

“Once emergency services arrived to the man he was swiftly evacuated to hospital.”

Are you the man who found him? Email Argus reporter Anna Roberts on anna.roberts@theargus.co.uk