A national guardsman who fell down an 80-metre cliff was rescued by air having sustained relatively minor injuries, fire service spokesman Andreas Kettis said on Tuesday.

Speaking to CyBC, Kettis said the soldier was rescued on Monday from the location of his fall near Lefka crossing point by an Emak helicopter crew, while an ambulance was at the ready to transport him to Nicosia general hospital.

Firefighters from the Evryhou and Lakatamia station assisted in the rescue of the young man, who fell down the steep slope of a reservoir, under so far unknown circumstances.

The man’s fall had been a sheer drop at times but was luckily broken up at two stages, and current indications show he managed to escape with just a broken arm, Kettis said.

“Had his fall been unbroken we would be talking about different facts,” Kettis said.

The area was inaccessible on foot and it was only possible to approach and rescue by helicopter.

The man’s state of health is still being monitored.