Fife man, 49, airlifted to safety while holidaying in Scottish Borders after slipping and breaking ankle at secluded harbour

A 49-year-old man was airlifted to safety after breaking his ankle at a secluded harbour in the Scottish Borders.

The man suffered the injury after slipping at Cove Harbour at around 12:40pm on Wednesday.

He was left stricken at the water’s edge, by some cliffs, after his fall but the area is inaccessible by road which meant he had to be winched to safety by the coastguard helicopter.

Dunbar’s lifeboat crews were tasked along with coastguard teams - from Eyemouth, Berwick, Dunbar and North Berwick - and helped give him pain relief and oxygen before he was airlifted to the top of the cliffs to be assisted by paramedics.

Rescue teams helped get the injured man to safety. Pic: Dunbar RNLI

The man, who is from Methil in Fife and turns 50 on Thursday, had been holidaying in the area at the time of the accident.

Dunbar lifeboat coxswain, Gary Fairbairn, said: “Given the conditions and the fact the UK Coastguard was able to attend, it made sense to airlift the casualty.”