French tourist hurt in fall from rocks in Sydney

New South Wales Police say a French tourist has been winched to safety in an early Thursday helicopter rescue after he fell into the sea at Sydney's Bronte Beach.

"Police were called to the southern end of Bronte Baths after a woman heard a man screaming for help about 50 metres (164 feet) off shore," acting Police Inspector Peter Wilkes said Thursday.

The 38-year-old man managed to drag himself out of the water onto rocks below a cliff but had to be winched to safety by a helicopter crew after receiving serious injuring to his legs.

The holidaymaker, who had been in Australia for 10 days, told police he fell into the sea near Bronte Baths and may have been in the water for 30 minutes before his cries were heard.

His condition was reported as stable.