EMERGENCY services on land, sea and air battled the elements to rescue a rock climber who was injured by a falling boulder at remote Waitpinga Cliffs.

Just after 5pm on Saturday, emergency services were called to The Flat Iron, a stretch of sheer cliff face used by rock climbers near Kings Beach.

An Old Reynella man was climbing the slope with friends when he used a boulder as a hand hold.

The boulder shifted, rolling on top of the 26-year-old who then fell several metres, injuring his leg and shoulder.

SES and CFS crews rushed to the rural location and searched for the stranded climber, assisted by sea rescue vessels and a Medstar helicopter.

media_camera Two climbers on Waitpinga Cliffs, at 3pm, just before the rescue. Picture: Elizabeth Steele-Collins

Resident Elizabeth Steele-Collins watched the drama unfold from a nearby vantage point, filming the rescue effort.

“Mobile phone coverage is very poor in the remote area and it took a while before emergency crews could be called,” she said.

“Sea Rescue were out there scanning the cliffs, looking for the climber.”

SES and CFS crews were preparing to descend the cliff if the approaching Medstar helicopter was not able to make a pass over the area.

At 6.20pm, the Medstar helicopter arrived and located the man before winching a paramedic down to the cliff face. A second paramedic was winched down a short time later.

The man was treated on the cliff face and then carried out and then flown to a nearby hospital for treatment.

The Medstar pilot impressed bystanders as he battled winds to keep the helicopter steady.

“I was amazed by the pilot, to do what he did so close to the cliffs,” Ms Steele-Collins said

“He did an amazing job.”