Man rescued after 50m fall near Cairns

A man has multiple leg fractures after falling more than 50 metres near a dam in far north Queensland.

The 32-year-old fell from a ridge near Copperlode Dam late on Sunday night.

Paramedics say he was lucky to break his fall on hillside scrub, and not tumble down a further 80-metre drop. He was winched out by helicopter and taken to Cairns Base Hospital.