The eight-year-old, who was feared to have suffered neck injuries, slipped on the rocks at around 4.40pm on Saturday.

The girl's mother alerted the ambulance service and Newhaven lifeboat was called. It sent its inflatable Y boat with a paramedic on board to carry the child, who was strapped to a spinal board, to safety.

Lee Blacknell, deputy second coxswain for Newhaven lifeboat, said, "We received the call to help the girl, who had fallen on rocks. The majority of work was carried out by the Birling Gap Coastguard Team and South East Coast Ambulance Service.

"We got on scene and launched our inflatable Y boat to help paramedics. We then took her on to the lifeboat and back to Newhaven station.
"I think the ambulance team suspected she may have suffered a spinal injury.

"The girl was in relatively good spirits when we got there."

A spokeswoman for South East Coast Ambulance Service added, "We received a call shortly after 4pm. It was believed that somebody had fallen from rocks and a girl had a suspected neck injury.

"The ambulance team went to Newhaven to join the lifeboat and help them that end before taking the girl to Eastbourne DGH."

A spokesman at the DGH said the girl was treated at the hospital and had since been discharged.

Earlier this year another visitor to Seaford beach suffered injuries while sunbathing.

In May Christopher Tofts suffered a fractured pelvis and a severe gash in his abdomen after a boulder fell 200ft and landed on his stomach.

The 48-year-old Seaford resident had been kayaking with his wife and three friends when they stopped to catch some sun on the beach under Seaford Head.

Councillor Tracy Willis said that people needed to be cautious when visiting the area and added, "First and foremost I hope the girl and her family are OK.

"Splash Point is an exploring area because there so many rocks. You can't stop people going there, you can only advise them.

"We regularly carry out inspections at Seaford Head as a council but it's quite difficult deciding where to put (warning) signs. People just have to be responsible.

"It's a grey area becuase you could put signs all the way along the beach saying 'don't go there' but people have to make their own judgements.

"I think residents, visitors and holiday makers who go down there do so at their own risk."