Coastguard Sumner volunteers and the local Surf Life Saving SAR team were called to an incident below the lighthouse near the entrance to Lyttelton Harbour on Monday afternoon.
The man "slipped near the cliff top and slid 100m down a scree-filled gully to the bottom", Coastguard Sumner spokesperson said.
"Coastguard Sumner's jet boat Hamilton Jet Rescue was on the water in six minutes accompanied by jet ski Urquhart Trust Rescue.
"Meanwhile Coastguard Sumner’s all weather vessel Blue Arrow Rescue acted as on-scene command and managed communications to the incident management team set up at Sumner base.
"As part of a joint activation, the Sumner-Taylors Surf Life Saving SAR Squad launched two IRBs to the scene to provide additional support.
"The person was quickly located, just eight minutes after launching.
"Extraction was tricky, via a narrow inlet between rocks.
"Two Coastguard Sumner crew and a surf life saving team member swam to the casualty from the jet boat, which manoeuvred close by in the inlet."
Once aboard he was checked by the medically trained Coastguard crew members and wrapped in warm clothing for the journey back to base.
He was met by a waiting ambulance and taken to hospital for further treatment.
"It was a challenging and technical rescue, requiring precise co-ordination and planning, especially as daylight was fading fast. A huge well done to everyone involved."
