A MAN had to be rescued from Irvine Beach today after falling and suffering a suspected broken leg during a sponsored walk.

According to rescue teams the man was out taking part in a charity stroll when he fell down a pothole on the beach just before 2pm today (Sunday, December 9).

Irvine’s Coastwatch team were first on the scene to the man and treated him while they waited for the Ardrossan Coastguard Team and paramedics to arrive.

Billy Lamb from Coastwatch said: “The man had been out on a sponsored walk and was running to catch up with some of the kids and has fallen down a pot hole.

"He was in an awful lot of pain so we treated him with a Thermal Protection Aid while we waited for paramedics and the Coastguard to arrive. He was suffering from a suspected broken ankle or broken leg.”

The Ardrossan Coastguard Rescue Team had to access the injured man via the Gailes Golf Course, given the remote location.

A spokesman for Ardrossan Coastguard Team said: “As the remainder of the team arrived on scene, the casualty was packaged in the team's evacuation stretcher and thereafter extracted off the beach utilising a variety of stretcher carry techniques over some challenging terrain to the awaiting ambulance.

“The casualty has then been recovered to the ambulance and left in the care of the Scottish Ambulance Service and conveyed to hospital for further medical attention.”

More on this story in thie week's Irvine Times