This is the moment a base jumper crashed to the ground below after their parachute failed to fully open while jumping from a cliff in Dover.
Dramatic footage shows the base jumper taking a running jump before throwing himself from the edge of the cliff and deploying his parachute.
However it fails to expand quick enough and the base jumper is last seen falling rapidly and then disappearing from view.
St Margarat’s Bay makes up part of the White Cliffs of Dover, which at their highest, reach some 360ft.
Police, fire crews, paramedics, an air ambulance and the coastguard rushed to the scene before the casualty was winched away to hospital via helicopter.
The incident happened at around midday – it is not yet known how badly injured the person is, although they were concious and breathing when found, medics say.
A base jumper has been injured after their parachute reportedly failed to open causing them to fall from a cliff near Dover. A number of witnesses said that a person attempting a jump was seen falling from a cliff at St Margaret’s in Kent
Witnesses say another paraglider, who was there at the time, raised the alarm to people on the beach.
It is thought the casualty was laying on or near to rocks at the base of the cliff.
A number of witnesses told Kent Live that a person attempting a jump was seen falling from a cliff at St Margaret’s in Kent.
Mr Thompsett, from Hythe, told Kent Online: ‘The emergency services were already there when we arrived.
‘We saw the coastguard helicopter hovering in the air and winching up the casualty from the beach.
‘They knew they had to get him away from there before the tide came in.
Witnesses say another paraglider, who was there at the time, raised the alarm to people on the beach. It is thought the casualty was laying on or near to rocks at the base of the cliff (file image)
‘It all eventually quietened down but it was quite a thing to happen between Christmas and the New Year.
The lifeboat service had to be called a second time when those at first helping the victim risked being cut off by the tide at the cliff base.
The area remains cordoned off to the public.
A Maritime and Coastguard Agency spokesman said: ‘At 12.05pm today HM Coastguard received a call from a member of the public reporting that a person, believed to be a base jumper, had fallen midway down the cliff at St Margaret’s Bay after their parachute had failed to fully open.
‘Deal and Langdon Coastguard Rescue Teams, Walmer RNLI inshore lifeboat, Lydd Coastguard helicopter are all on scene, alongside Kent Police, Kent Fire and Rescue, an Air Ambulance and the South East Coastguard Ambulance service.
‘The casualty was winched onboard the Lydd Coastguard helicopter and was taken to the top of the cliff where he was transferred into the care of the Air Ambulance for onward transfer to hospital.’
A spokesperson for South East Coast Ambulance Service said: ‘This is still an on-going incident when a base-jumper’s parachute failed jumping off the cliff. We are on scene along with Coastguard and air ambulance’ (file image dated 2013)
A South East Coast Ambulance Service spokesman said: ‘At 11.57am today we were called to a patient halfway down the cliff at St Margaret’s Bay after his parachute failed in a base jump.
‘We sent our Hazardous Area Response Team who have climbing skills to support the efforts also being made by the Coastguard and Police.
‘The patient was found conscious and breathing and has been flown by the air ambulance to Kings College Hospital in London for treatment.’
A spokesman for Walmer RNLI said: ‘Crews were called back to the scene at around 1.45pm after those tending to the base jumper on the beach were at risk of being cut off by the tide.
‘Both the Atlantic 85 Donald McLauchlan and D Class Duggie Rodbard have been launched although one has been diverted to help a fishing boat with engine problems.’
A police spokesman said: ‘Kent Police was made aware at 12.20pm on Friday 28 December 2018 of a report of a man seen on a cliff in St Margaret’s Bay in Dover.
‘Officers are currently at the scene to assist HM Coastguard, Kent Fire and Rescue Service, and the South East Coast Ambulance Service.’
A spokesman for SECAmb said: ‘A base-jumper’s parachute failed jumping off the cliff. We are on scene along with Coastguard and air ambulance.’