Man Falls Off Cliff Walk, Transported by Helicopter to Hospital

NEWPORT, RI -- A man was taken to Rhode Island Hospital on a Lifeflight helicopter after he apparently fell off the Cliff Walk.

Deputy fire Chief David P. Murphy said the first 9-1-1 call came from a woman who reported an elderly man lying on the rocks below the Cliff Walk.

The mishap occurred near the end of Webster Street.

Murphy could not say if the area is near the Cliff Walk section closed for construction to repair damage from Hurricane Sandy.

Two firefighters managed to descend on foot and reach the injured man. They found him lying partly in the water, with the tide coming in. They started medical treatment.

They evaluated his injuries and stabilized him, Murphy said. Three more firefighters also went down on foot. Other crew sent down a litter. The five firefighters on the rocks helped put the patient on the stretcher and secured him, since he was being lifted vertically.

Firefighters also set up a hauling system to lift the patient clear of the rocks safely.

The fire department responded with two engines, the rescue, ladder company and a command vehicle., Murphy said. The fire chief also arrived in the chief's car.

Meanwhile, the police department and Engine 1 cleared a landing area behind McAuley Hall at Salve Regina University.

By the time, the man was safely off the rocks, the helicopter had arrived, Murphy said.

His condition was not known.

Patch will update the story as information becomes available.