A TEENAGER who fell off a cliff saved himself by grabbing a piece of bracken growing halfway down.

The 15-year-old plummeted 50 feet down the chalk cliff face, near the Pilgrims Way at Detling, before managing to break his fall.

Officers found him clinging on to vegetation and threw him a tow rope from their vehicle so he could hold on until firefighters arrived with a specialist ladder.

Ambulance crews also attended the accident on Tuesday, June 19. and the boy was taken to hospital with minor injuries.

Inspector Alan Rogers said: "Officers continued to speak to the boy throughout the incident to keep him calm. Undoubtedly the actions of the officers and Kent Fire and Rescue Service averted serious injury."

With the school summer holidays approaching, Kent Police is advising young people to find somewhere safe to play and not to enter restricted areas such as building sites and quarries.

Inspector Alan Rogers continued: "I'd urge parents to ask their children where they are going and when they'll be home, and to ensure their child's mobile phone is charged if they have one."

Officers are also warning motorcyclists to stay away from quarries. Anyone found to be trespassing and causing a nuisance could be prosecuted and risk having their bike seized.

Can you tell us more about the dramatic rescue? Call the Kent Messenger on 01622 695666