A PARAGLIDER was rescued from cliffs on the North East coast after a lengthy operation on Saturday.

The paraglider was reported to have crashed on the cliffs to the west of Saltburn on Saturday.

Coastguard Rescue teams from Staithes and Redcar were called to assist with the rescue before the casualty was taken to hospital by the North East Ambulance Service.

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A rope system was set up to lower a cliff technician to get the casualty. The teams were then joined by paramedics who stabilised him and he was strapped into a cliff rescue stretcher and hauled to the clifftop, guided by the technician.

He was then taken to hospital for further treatment.

The Coastguard service has now issued a reminder to other people who get into difficulty on cliffs. 

A spokesman for Staithes Coastguard said: “This was a long and demanding rescue, and congratulations to emergency service workers from all the services who worked together to get this man to safety and treatment.

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“He probably spent longer than he should have on the cliff as we weren’t called immediately. Coastguards are the experts at cliff rescue and casualty care, and if you see anyone in danger or injured on the cliffs or beach and you call 999, the Coastguards should be the first service you ask for.”

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