Girl, 16, breaks spine in 60ft Devon cliff fall

The girl is thought to have been sitting at the top of the cliff with friends when she fell.

A 16-year-old girl was found in "extreme agony" with a broken spine after falling 60ft (19m) down a cliff, according to rescuers.

Exmouth RNLI rescuers said they found the teenager on a cliff ledge at Orcombe Point at 21:40 BST on Friday.

She was stretchered to the beach where she was airlifted to Derriford Hospital in Plymouth.

The girl is thought to have been sitting at the top of the cliff with friends when she fell.

Rescuers wished the girl a "speedy recovery"

Exmouth RNLI thanked coastguards, the police and the Devon Air Ambulance on Facebook for their "amazing teamwork" in the rescue.

"We sincerely wish the girl a speedy recovery," said the lifeboat crew.

Crew volunteer, Roger Jackson said the cliff edge had crumbled under her and warned others about similar incidents in the heatwave.

"Our cliffs are very dry and prone to splitting and creating rock falls," he said.

"It is not only dangerous for walkers at the top, it is also dangerous for people sitting on beaches beneath.

"We would encourage people not to take the risk of going near the edge - keep to the marked footpaths and enjoy our beautiful coastline from a safe distance."