The heroic rescue happened just before 6pm, when the crew of Lee-on-the-Solent's S61N helicopter were called to aid a teenager who had plunged off a cliff.

The coastguard had received a call from a chaplain at Beachy Head, Eastbourne, with reports that a young girl was seen approaching a cliff.

The 16-year-old girl was seen talking to the chaplain, before plunging from the edge at 5.50pm.

She tumbled about 180ft down the cliff face – but incredibly survived.

She was stuck on a ledge, and had serious head injuries, as well as damage to her wrist and leg.

A volunteer rescuer from the Eastbourne Cliff Rescue Team was winched down to assist, and the nearest available helicopter – the Lee-on-the-Solent airteam – was scrambled.

Winchman Mario Testa was sent down to secure her.

Because of the extreme wind conditions, coastguard officers said the helicopter was forced to operate 'at its very limits', and Mario was left on the cliff face with the victim while the helicopter withdrew.

As they edged perilously close to a 60 foot sheer drop, the helicopter was finally able to close in safely and she and Mario were taken on board.

The young girl was taken to Eastbourne Hospital, where she is said to be in a stable condition.