The police, coastguard and two lifeboats were all involved in the operation after the man fell down an embankment near a cliff.

Shortly after 2330 BST on Friday police responded to reports of a man walking in the middle of the road at Bushmills Road just outside Portrush.

When officers arrived, the man - who is believed to be in his 30s - climbed over a barrier and rolled down a steep embankment leading to a sheer cliff face.

Hazardous conditions

A police sergeant tied a rope around himself and made his way down towards the man who was, by that stage, struggling to maintain his footing on wet grass and in driving rain.

The coastguard and ambulance service arrived and two lifeboats were stationed offshore to provide light to the area.

The sergeant managed to reach the man and restrain him while a stretcher was lowered.

A coastguard officer from Ballycastle's specialist cliff rescue team then helped to haul him to safety.

Bravery praised

The man was remained in hospital overnight but his injuries are not believed to be serious.

Inspector Paul Trotter praised the sergeant's bravery and said the priority was to get to the man quickly as he slipped towards the 100-foot drop.

"He did this regardless to his own safety, but obviously the priority was to ensure that the distressed man did not, in fact, injure himself any further," he said.

As the rescue was ending, the lifeboat was called to a second emergency after a lone sailor was injured on his way from Cushendall in County Antrim to Campbelltown in Scotland.

Lifeboat spokesman Paddy McLaughlin said all four had a lucky escape.

"The boat was completely swamped," he said.

"If it hadn't been for the sheer luck of a passing vessel to raise the alarm - the lifeboat towed the 15ft yacht safely onto the beach at Torr Head.

"A second incident was then just unfolding."