Close call: UK fisherman saved from aggressive seals

LONDON — A British fisherman had to be rescued from a cliff face after fleeing an aggressive colony of more than 50 grey seals and their young pups, the coast guard said Monday.

The Maritime and Coastguard Agency said the fisherman was walking on a beach Friday near Green Stane cliff in southeastern Scotland when he came across the seals, who became agitated and aggressive. He climbed up a cliff face to escape but became trapped before reaching the top and had to call for emergency aid Friday night.

The Maritime agency said it had a rescue team at the site within 20 minutes but it took about two hours to set up and use the rope rescue system to bring the fisherman down to the beach. Officials say the fisherman, who was wearing waterproof clothing and using a headlamp for illumination, clung to the cliff for several hours before he was brought down.

Rescue workers then summoned a waiting lifeboat, which picked its way through the seal colony and took the fisherman to safety in Eyemouth harbour, 370 miles (nearly 600 kilometres) north of London. He was treated for exposure to the cold.