Man relives moment he got stuck on cliff face in Hastings

Bryn Austin had taken a walk to Fairlight Glen, Hastings, to study a landslide, having visited relatives nearby, on the evening of April 24.

The 71-year-old, who lives in Norfolk, had taken a steep route down towards the beach, but became lost on his return.

With the temperature dropping, no one else in sight and no battery on his mobile phone, the retired geologist knew it was a case of life or death.

When he failed to respond to their message about dinner and with the light quickly fading, his family became concerned.

They filed a missing person report with police and a multi-agency search operation was launched.

In the meantime, Bryn used basic tools at his disposal, a lighter, some newspaper and packaging leftover from an Easter egg, to start a small fire.

His aim was to keep safe and warm but also to alert anyone out searching for him to his presence.

“This path looked unfamiliar compared to the one I took down,” he said. “The change of aspect really threw me and after trying a few different paths I realised I was in a spot of bother.

“I hacked through a load of undergrowth and was concerned about my legs, both of which I have broken, but I took my time and carried on. I felt very calm but with an underlying thought that something very bad could happen here. I know how hazardous landslides can be.

“It was a great challenge, but it got steeper and steeper, and the cliff edge was really dodgy. I managed to find a stable position and thought it would be an ideal place to wait it out.

“I had trust in my brother-in-law, who knows I try my hardest to keep in touch. I sent several messages but there was no signal and eventually I ran out of battery.

“It was quite a saga really but I had every faith that by midnight he would realise there was something wrong and he would phone the police.”

Police were called shortly after 10pm and managed to locate Bryn’s vehicle in the area. A drone was deployed but due to the scale of the search region, the National Police Air Service helicopter was requested for back-up.

Bryn is a retired geologist (Image: Sussex Police)

They were able to direct a search team on foot to the cliffs directly above Bryn, but it quickly became clear that his position was inaccessible.

The HM Coastguard search and rescue helicopter from Lydd was sent, assisted by Coastguard rescue teams from Hastings, Rye Bay, Bexhill and Romney Marsh, and the RNLI's all-weather lifeboat from Eastbourne and Pett Level Independent Rescue Boat.

Bryn was eventually winched to safety, unhurt.

“I had great faith in the emergency services and the rescue operation was absolutely brilliant,” he said.

“I’m extremely grateful that they put their lives on the line to help me. I’d like to thank every single person who was involved in what was a life-or-death situation for me.”