A MAN who fell more than 260 feet off a cliff in Purbeck was incredibly lucky to survive, Portland Coastguard said today.

The 40-year-old man slipped and fell after walking too close to the cliff near Old Harry Rocks, near Swanage.

He missed the rocky coastline and landed in the sea.

Rescue officers from Swanage Coastguard attended and the Portland coastguard rescue helicopter winched the man to safety.

An ambulance met the helicopter at the Poole landing site and took him to Poole Hospital where he was treated for broken ribs and bruising.

A spokesman from Portland Coastguard said: "It's absolutely incredible.

"I can't believe that he survived the fall - he should buy a lottery ticket.

"Apparently he just got too close to the edge and slipped and his girlfriend called the coastguard.

"He was very lucky indeed that he fell into the water."

In a busy weekend of action, the coastguard helicopter was also scrambled when a man fell overboard in the entrance of Poole Harbour.

The Poole RNLI all-weather lifeboat and inshore lifeboat also attended the mayday call from the skipper of the 33ft yacht Excel. The crewman was in a hypothermic state and airlifted ashore.

The yacht, which had suffered an engine problem, was towed into Poole Harbour by the lifeboat. During the tow, two more members of crew had to be taken off Excel due to chronic seasickness.

The helicopter also airlifted a diver who was displaying signs of decompression sickness south of West Bay to Poole. He was met by the Coastguard, an ambulance and a specialist dive doctor.

And pleasure vessel K Too reported engine failure off Ringstead Bay with 13 people onboard including crew. Another vessel Freedom towed K Too back to Weymouth.