Durdle Door: Three seriously hurt ‘jumping off cliff into sea’

Image copyright Dorset Police Image caption Emergency crews were called to Durdle Door at about 15:45 BST

Three people have been seriously hurt at a beach on the Jurassic coast.

Dorset Police responded to reports of concern for the safety of people who were jumping off the cliff at Durdle Door into the sea at about 15:45 BST.

Two helicopters landed on the beach and those injured were taken to hospital. The extent of their injuries is not yet known.

The beach and cliffs were evacuated. People have been advised to avoid the area.

Ch Insp Claire Phillips, of Dorset Police, said: “We have had to close the beach at Durdle Door to allow air ambulances to land.

Image copyright Dorset Police Image caption People were asked to leave the beach so air ambulances could land

“As a result, we are evacuating the beach and the surrounding cliff area.

“I am urging people to leave the area to enable emergency services to treat the injured people.”

Durdle Door is a well-known beauty spot near Lulworth and has seen large numbers of visitors during the recent hot weather as lockdown restrictions were eased.

Image copyright PA Media Image caption Earlier in the day crowds of people flocked to the popular beauty spot