AN elderly man had to be rescued after falling down a rockface and sustaining painful injuries to his head and arm.

The HM Coastguard Southend was sent to the rock embankment located opposite the former Esplanade pub, in Western Esplanade, on Saturday.

The agency had received reports that a 72-year-old man was in serious pain after falling and injuring his head and upper left arm.

After arriving on the scene, the coastguard team found the man was being comforted by a member of the public, who had stayed with him until their arrival.

The coastguard then worked alongside paramedics from the East of England Ambulance Service, who assessed the casualty’s vital signs.

Due to the severity of the man’s injuries, the Southend Coastguard used an evacuation stretcher to safely move him onto an ambulance trolley.

Community safety officers from Southend Council also attended the incident in order to provide additional help to the emergency services.

The casualty was then placed into the care of the two paramedics for further treatment, and the Southend Coastguard team returned to its base.

A spokesman for HM Coastguard Southend said: “We wish the casualty well and a quick recovery and would like to thank our wider service colleagues for their assistance.”