Rescue teams from Bridlington and Filey were paged to assist Humberside Police and the Flamborough Lifeboat crew also searched from the sea.
They concentrated on the areas along the clifftops from Thornwick Bay towards Bempton and from Speeton towards Bempton.
One of the search teams came across the casualty on the cliff top and assisted by the police took him away from danger. Once in a safe position, he was handed over to Humberside Police.