A TEENAGER was airlifted to hospital by helicopter with serious head injuries after falling from cliffs in North Berwick in the early hours of this (Wednesday) morning.

Emergency services were called out to the cliffs east of Haugh Road, near the Glen golf course, at about 12.30am following reports that two male teenagers, aged 16 and 17, had fallen approximately 25 feet.

They were part of a larger group of youngsters who had been camping in the area. 

The 16-year-old had fallen from the cliff edge onto rocks below and, when his friends went to help him, a 17-year-old also fell.

Coastguard teams from Dunbar, North Berwick and Fisherrow were joined by the Coastguard Rescue Helicopter 199 from Prestwick.

Firefighters from North Berwick and East Linton were also called out, as well as a specialist rope rescue team from Tollcross, in Edinburgh, and North Berwick’s RNLI team.

The Edinburgh Emergency Medicine advanced trauma care team, Medic One, from the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh (ERI) also attended.

When emergency services reached the two teenagers, the 16-year-old was found unconscious with serious head injuries.

Due to the location of the fall and it being unsafe to carry the teenager to an ambulance in his condition, it took about two hours to get him to the ERI by helicopter.

The 17-year-old sustained serious injuries to his arm and shoulder and was taken to the same hospital by ambulance.

Chief Inspector Steven Duncan, Area Commander for East Lothian, said: "It's completely understandable that, with the warm weather here and the summer holidays upon us, that our young people will want to enjoy their freedom.

"However, I cannot emphasise strongly enough the need to do this safely. 

"Walking near cliff edges in the dark is hugely dangerous. 

"If you are injured, it requires a significant emergency service response to locate you and it takes longer to get you to hospital for treatment.

"This was a very distressing incident for the five other male and female youths that the two boys were camping with, who saw their friends fall from a cliff edge, and for their parents who were told in the night that their sons had been seriously hurt.

"The message to our young people, in particular, is simple – if you are near a cliff edge or water then you must be cautious at all times.

"Your safety should always be your number one priority."