A man was last night fighting for his life after falling 20ft from a cliff onto rocks.

The 37-year-old is thought either have been walking or fishing when he lost his footing on a ledge near Spittal Pond around 4 p.m. yesterday.

As went to press the man was reported to be in a critical condition in the intensive care unit at King Edward VII Memorial Hospital.

Firefighters and members of the public worked side-by-side to pull the injured man back up the cliff using ropes and a basket.

The injured man was reported to be having difficulty breathing and was unconscious.

A Police spokesman said it was still unclear how the man had come to fall from the ledge.

Lt. Wenda Godfrey, of the Bermuda Fire Service, said: ?We were called at 4.20 p.m. to a man who had fallen off a cliff on South Shore Road near Spittal Pond.

?He had fallen between 15 and 20ft and we sent four vehicles with nine personnel to effect a rescue. It was a physical rescue. We placed the man in a basked and lifted him up the cliff using ropes. Members of the public and hospital staff assisted.?