Geology students risk their lives under Dorset cliff prone to rockfall

2022-10-16

Fail! Group of 15 geology students risk their lives as they ignore warning signs to stand underneath fragile 150ft sandstone cliff prone to rockfalls in Dorset

15 university students got too close to the 150ft cliff at West Bay in Dorset
Landslips regularly occur at the bay, which is the setting of ITV’s Broadchurch
Rocks and boulders the size of cars can fall from the cliffs without warning
Coastguards and the council urge the public to walk away from the cliff face

A group of geology students almost became history after they risked their lives by standing under a fragile cliff prone to rockfalls.

The 15 university students ignored warning signs about getting too close to the 150ft sandstone cliff at West Bay in Dorset during a field trip to the Jurassic Coast.

Wearing yellow hard hats, the group huddled together by the cliff face to examine some of the 180 million year old rocks seemingly oblivious to the danger they were in.

A shocked resident observed them for about 20 minutes.

Landslips and rock falls regularly occur at the cliffs at West Bay, which doubled as Broadchurch in the ITV crime drama.

The 15 university students ignored warning signs about getting too close to the 150ft sandstone cliff at West Bay in Dorset during a field trip to the Jurassic Coast

When they do, hundreds of tonnes of rocks and boulders the size of cars fall without warning.

In 2012 tourist Charlotte Blackman, 22, was crushed to death when a huge fall happened as she walked under the cliffs further along the same stretch of coast.

Coastguards and the local council regularly issue warnings, urging the public to walk well away from the cliff face.

Witness John May said: ‘There are numerous signs around, warning of the danger of cliff falls and to stay away from cliff edges and bases.

‘There have been a number of large cliff falls in the area and along that stretch of cliff. I immediately thought they were in danger.’

Landslips and rock falls regularly occur at the cliffs at West Bay (pictured), which doubled as Broadchurch in the ITV crime drama

Another local said he was shocked at the lack of awareness. He added: ‘They would have needed more than hard hats to protect them if the cliff did collapse.

‘Somebody told me they were university geology students here on a field trip.’

Geologist Richard Edmonds said rockfalls at West Bay are likely at this time of year.

He said: ‘The scorching weather that we had during summer dried out the joints in the sandstone cliffs.

‘The stormy weather that we have had recently loosens the rubble trapped in the cracks and they can give way at any moment.

Wearing yellow hard hats, the group huddled together by the cliff face to examine some of the 180 million year old rocks seemingly oblivious to the danger they were in

Coastguards and the local council regularly issue warnings, urging the public to walk well away from the cliff face

‘Groups should absolutely not be standing underneath the cliffs, it only takes a very small amount of rock to fall from that height to hospitalise somebody.

‘The best thing that visitors to the coast can do is wait until low tide and walk as far from the cliff as they can.’

A Maritime and Coastguard Agency spokesperson said: ‘We always urge the public to adhere to advice and warning signs, while staying on official paths, on any visit to the coast.

‘With the weather we’ve had recently, eroding cliffs are even more vulnerable and pose a potential safety risk.

‘When standing at the bottom of a cliff, we would advise people that they shouldn’t stand less than the height of the cliff away.’

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