p1 coast splash + pic (5177-15a) A major cliff rescue operation was launched after a woman fell more than 30ft down a sheer drop at the Naze at Walton.

Kathy Warner, from Colchester, was seen lying unconscious on a ledge by a member of the public who contacted Thames Coastguard at Walton.

The coastguard cliff rescue team was called in along with police, ambulances and paramedics.

Clacton Coastguard sector manager Steve Moffatt was first on the scene.

He said: "When I got there the woman was unconscious and about 30 to 40ft below a sheer drop resting on a ledge.

"There was another 12 to 15ft to go and we decided the rescue team should take a paramedic and another man down to her using line rescue techniques.

"She was assessed and then we took a stretcher down to her. It was a tricky operation as it is the highest point of the cliffs, a sheer drop, and it was very slippery because of the rain."

In the past it would have been possible to go up the shorter distance from the bottom of the cliffs but erosion by the sea has made that route impossible.

Mr Moffatt said it was fortunate the tide was out as it allowed them to take the woman down to the beach by stretcher.

She was taken to the Essex Air Ambulance which flew her to Colchester General Hospital.

Mrs Warner, believed to be in her mid-30s, was treated in the accident and emergency department for leg and back injuries and later transferred to another unit.

Coastguards received the 999 call from the member of the public at about 3.35pm yesterday.

Bruce Lack, watch manager, said somone had spotted the woman and got another member of the public to make the emergency call. He said the fall was from the cliff near the Naze Tower.

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