COASTGUARD officials were called to reports that a man had been pulled from the sea with a serious head injury off Langton Matravers on Sunday.

Crews based at Swanage and St Albans, as well as two RNLI crews from Swanage, rushed to Dancing Ledge as bad weather lashed the coastline during the afternoon after the incident was reported.

When the teams arrived, they discovered a group on the cliff top. Members of the group had just got out of the water.

One man had suffered an asthma attack in the sea. Another man had gone into the water to help, but suffered a broken hand and leg injuries during the rescue attempt.

Both were taken to Poole Hospital by paramedics in land ambulances.