Two visitors are seen standing dangerously close to Dorset cliff edge
Two visitors are seen standing dangerously close to cliff edge at scenic beauty spot where landslips and rock falls regularly take place
- Post-Christmas revellers have been seen risking their lives on a crumbling cliff
- Images showed two men standing on the edge of the cliff in West Bay, Dorset
- Safety campaigners said the area regularly suffers from large rock falls
- In 2012, visitor Charlotte Blackman was crushed to death by a rock slide
Two people have been pictured standing dangerously close to the cliff edge at a scenic Dorset spot.
Thousands of daytrippers enjoyed the mild bank holiday Monday at West Bay to take in the views, enjoy a walk on the beach and seafront or grab a lunchtime bite.
During the day, a pair of visitors were photographed standing close to the edge on top of the crumbling cliffs near Bridport. One man is seen leaning forward over the cliff edge and could be seen taking a photo with his mobile phone.
The men in white and black jackets are not the only visitors pictured in the area, as further photographs show a group standing further back. Paths on the cliff tops are signposted, and it is not safe to venture beyond the designated walking routes.
Two visitors to East Beach, West Bay in Dorset on Monday have been condemned by safety campaigners for standing two close to the unstable cliff edge which regularly suffers landslides
Several other people were seen clambering along the top of the cliff edge to take photographs
One witness, who asked not to be named, said the pair could be clearly seen near the edge of the cliff from afar. He said: ‘I was walking along the harbour and I looked towards the cliffs at the people.
‘I could make out even at a distance how close the pair were to the cliff edge, but my phone’s camera showed how close they were to the edge. They weren’t dangling other the edge, but it was a risky place to be.’
Standing near the edge of the golden cliffs along East Beach is strongly discouraged as they are prone to collapsing at any time. Landslips and rock falls regularly occur at the cliffs at West Bay and see 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.
Maritime and Coastguard Agency regularly issue warnings about people standing near or under cliffs and said they were saddened by the photos. A MCA spokesperson said: ‘When standing at the bottom of a cliff, we would always advise people that they shouldn’t stand less than the height of the cliff away. That means that if the cliff is 25 metres high, don’t go closer than 25 metres towards it.
‘The cliffs along the UK coastline are continually eroding, with pieces falling from them that can be just a few small rocks or as large as a car. It’s impossible to predict when the next piece might fall or how big it will be. Periods of intense rainfall will often make cliff edges more vulnerable.
‘We really can’t stress enough how important it is to keep back from the edge. There is no ‘safe’ place to be. Some of the cracks that have appeared have been several feet away from the edge. Don’t be tempted to go and investigate and don’t risk going to the edge to get a dramatic picture.
‘Please enjoy your coastal walk, but make sure you and your loved ones come home again safely. As ever, our message is, ‘Keep safe, but if you see anybody in trouble or if you get into difficulty, call 999 and ask for the Coastguard’.’
Source: Read Full Article