Father fell to his death in front of family scaling famous landmark

Father-of-two, 47, plunged to his death in front of his horrified family while trying to scale 100ft arch in Dorset’s Lulworth Cove, inquest hears

• Azhar Baig fell to his death while trying to scale a famous south coast landmark
• Mr Baig, 47, and his brother-in-law climbed up a 100ft arch known as Stair Hole
• The duo successfully jumped off arch twice into the water before tragedy struck

A father-of-two fell to his death while trying to scale a famous south coast landmark in front of his family, an inquest has heard. 

Azhar Baig, 47, was on a family day trip to Lulworth Cove in Dorset when he and his brother-in-law climbed up a 100ft arch known as Stair Hole.

The pair twice jumped off the top of the limestock rock and landed in the sea before they made a fateful third attempt.

Azhar Baig (pictured) was on a family day trip to Lulworth Cove in Dorset when he and his brother-in-law climbed up a 100ft arch known as Stair Hole

As he climbed up the rock face Mr Baig slipped and fell, hitting his head on the rocks below. It is thought he fell about 20ft and died at the scene from head injuries.

The tragic incident was witnessed by the 47-year-old’s brother-in-law, Imran Baig, who was above him on the climb up.

A Bournemouth inquest into his death heard that he had travelled to Dorset from his home town of Luton, Beds, in July 2021 with his wife and children and brother-in-law.

The group had originally planned to travel to Durdle Door, but when the car park was full, they decided to go to Lulworth Cove instead.

Having seen a small number of people climbing one side of the arch before ‘jumping from its apex,’ Mr Baig and Imran Baig decided to attempt the daring feat themselves.

Mr Baig’s widow – Naeem Akhtar – told the inquest that having heard Imran shout she turned to see her husband lying unconscious ‘face up in the water.’

The inquest was told that several off duty soldiers on a day out from the nearby Lulworth Camp rushed to help Mr Baig, who owned a fish and chip shop in Luton, and pulled him from the water.

Paramedics and coastguards rushed to his aid but he was pronounced dead at the scene. A post mortem examination confirmed he died of head injuries.

Ms Akhtar said: ‘People were jumping through the stone arches. Azhar had jumped successfully from the arch once or twice.

‘I heard my brother shout, and when I turned my husband was lying face up.

‘We were just going from Stair Hole back to the rest of the family at Lulworth Cove when it happened.’

The group had originally planned to travel to Durdle Door, but when the car park was full, they decided to go to Lulworth Cove (pictured) instead

She questioned whether there were enough signs in place to warn people about the dangers associated with the location, which is owned by the Lulworth Estate.

But James Weld, owner and manager of the Lulworth Estate, said that every visitor to the area will have passed ‘at least one warning sign.’

Paying tribute to Mr Baig, his family said: ‘Az was full of life and joy, always serving with a smile, bringing happiness wherever he went. He will be sorely missed.’

Recording a verdict of accidental death, Brendan Allen, area coroner for Dorset, described Mr Baig’s death as a ‘terrible tragedy.’

Mr Allen added: ‘This is undeniably a risky activity.

‘On the third attempt he slipped and hit the rocks before falling below.’

In June 2021, mother-of-five Tahira Jabeen, 46, from Birmingham, fell 100ft to her death from the cliffs at the nearby Man O’ War Bay while attempting to take a shortcut down the cliff.

Mr Allen added: ‘If there is any good that can come out of this incident (Mr Baig’s death) it is that people will stop and think before accessing the cost.’

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