Man killed in cliff plunge

A man died after falling into the sea from cliffs in Orkney yesterday.

Emergency services were scrambled to the scene at Yesnaby between Stromness and Sandwick at about 2.30pm.

The Stromness lifeboat arrived 15 minutes later and launched a Y-class boat to get close to the scene.

A spokesman for the crew said they were called after reports of a “person falling into the water from the cliff top”.

The Coastguard helped to direct the boat to the man, who was taken on board and transferred to the main lifeboat.

The lifeboat collected a Coastguard paramedic who was lowered from a helicopter off the Black Craig.

It then returned to Stromness harbour a few minutes later and

“Our thoughts are with his family at this time”

was met by a medical team.

At around 7.30pm last night, police confirmed the man had died.

A police spokesman said: “Police Scotland can confirm that a man died after falling from the cliffs at Yesnaby, Orkney, today, Monday June 26, at 2.15pm.

“Officers were assisted by HM Coastguard helicopter and a lifeboat.

“Inquiries are ongoing, but there are no suspicious circumstances and no further details will be available until next of kin have been fully informed.

“Our thoughts are with his family at this time.”

On Sunday, the body of a 39-year-old Polish national was recovered from the water at Kirkwall Harbour after the alarm was raised by a member of the public.

Police said there were no suspicious circumstances.