Height of stupidity! Sightseers risk their lives perching on top of fragile 150ft cliffs


Reckless sightseers have been pictured risking their lives by posing just inches away from a cliff-edge to take attention-grabbing selfies, despite the fragile Sussex coastline suffering fifty cliff falls over the past year.  

Millions enjoyed their newfound freedom in the good weather this week after coronavirus restrictions were partially lifted on Monday, allowing up to six people or two households of any size to meet outdoors. 

But for the hundreds of sightseers who flocked to the Sussex coast the crumbling chalk cliffs posed a very real danger of lethal cliff falls – made all the more likely by thrill-seeking crowds gathering near the edge.    

Many photographed at the cliff edge in Birling Gap, Eastbourne, East Sussex, appeared completely unaware of the fragility of the cliffs, which have cracks extending beneath the turf as the base of the cliff erodes away.

Many photographed at the cliff edge in Birling Gap, Eastbourne, East Sussex, appeared completely unaware of the fragility

Many photographed at the cliff edge in Birling Gap, Eastbourne, East Sussex, appeared completely unaware of the fragility 

A woman leans back over the cliff edge for a photo, with her hands supporting her on the very crumbly chalk edge

A woman leans back over the cliff edge for a photo, with her hands supporting her on the very crumbly chalk edge

East Sussex Council put out a warning this week following a ‘significant’ cliff fall at Birling Gap.  

A statement from the council said: ‘If you’re heading out for a coastal walk this weekend, stay away from cliff edges and bases.

‘There have been 50 cliff falls in the last year in East Sussex, where the chalk breaks away from the cliff and falls to the beach or sea below.’    

Walkers are now being told to watch their heads and stay away from cliff tops or the beaches below to avoid plummeting boulders which break away from the soft chalk cliff faces. 

Coastguards have also issued a warning over an ‘actively moving cliff’ at Seaford Head in the last few weeks. 

Another woman is seen posing for a life-risking selfie, dicing with death to get the perfect shot despite recent cliff falls

Another woman is seen posing for a life-risking selfie, dicing with death to get the perfect shot despite recent cliff falls

A woman is seen perching on the cliff edge as someone else photo, another man scoots towards the edge on his behind

A woman is seen perching on the cliff edge as someone else takes a photo. A man scoots towards the edge on his behind

People are seen on the beach below the cliff in Birling Gap, Eastbourne, East Sussex, as sightseers near the edge above them

People are seen on the beach below the cliff in Birling Gap, Eastbourne, East Sussex, as sightseers near the edge above them

As temperatures soared to 76.1F (24.5C) in parts of south England yesterday, and crowds flocked to beaches and areas of beauty spots to enjoy time outdoors with friends and family, Health Secretary Matt Hancock wrote a Tweet urging Britons to ‘enjoy the sun but let’s do it safely’, adding: ‘We have come so far, don’t blow it now.’      

Yesterday photos of emerged of a group of campers who had set up camp on the edge of a crumbling cliff in Burton Bradstock, Dorset.

The campers defied lockdown rules – which prohibit overnight stays away from home – and ignored warning signs and common sense to scale a safety fence and erect two tents just a few feet from the edge of the 150ft cliff.

Immediately below them were the remnants of a huge rockfall that occurred there three months ago. On that occasion 600 tonnes of boulders the size of cars slipped from the top of the delicate sandstone cliff.

The location overlooks the same beach where tourist Charlotte Blackman, 22, was crushed to death by a rockfall in 2012.

Campers set up camp immediately above a rockfall at the top of a perilous sandstone cliff at Burton Bradstock, Dorset

Campers set up camp immediately above a rockfall at the top of a perilous sandstone cliff at Burton Bradstock, Dorset

The tents were set up behind a safety fence which has a warning notice to stay away from  The group of campers defied lockdown rules, warning signs and common sense to scale a safety fence and erect two tents just a few feet from the edge of the 150ft cliff. Immediately below them was the remnants of a huge landslip that occurred three months ago. On that occasion 600 tonnes of boulders the size of cars slipped from the top of the delicate sandstone cliff at Burton Bradstock, Dorset.

The tents were set up behind a safety fence which has a warning notice to stay away from the cliff edge. The group of campers defied lockdown rules and warning signs to erect two tents just a few feet from the edge of the 150ft cliff

It is also just yards from the cliff-top mansion owned by songwriter Billy Bragg.

The campers were first spotted on a patch of grass between the safety fence and the precipice yesterday morning.

They ignored a red and yellow sign that urges visitors to stick to the South West Coast Path and warns them that the cliffs are seriously unstable. Locals tried to get them to move on but to no avail.

The police were eventually called an although officers arrived on the scene they only gave the party ‘words of advice’ before leaving them to it.

A spokesman for Dorset police said: ‘We received a report of people camping in two tents in the area of Cliff Road in Burton Bradstock, in breach of COVID-19 restrictions.

Immediately below them was the remnants of a huge landslip that occurred three months ago. On that occasion 600 tonnes of boulders the size of cars slipped from the top of the delicate sandstone cliff at Burton Bradstock, Dorset

Immediately below them was the remnants of a huge landslip that occurred three months ago. On that occasion 600 tonnes of boulders the size of cars slipped from the top of the delicate sandstone cliff at Burton Bradstock, Dorset

The location overlooks the same beach where tourist Charlotte Blackman, 22, was crushed to death by a rockfall in 2012

The location overlooks the same beach where tourist Charlotte Blackman, 22, was crushed to death by a rockfall in 2012

‘Officers attended at around 1.30pm and gave words of advice to the occupants, who confirmed they were leaving imminently.

‘We would urge people to continue to comply with the COVID-19 regulations that are in place.

‘Our officers will continue to be out in our commnunities – engaging, explaining and encouraging people to act responsibly. We will take enforcement action where necessary.’

A spokesman for the Maritime and Coastguard Agency said they were aware of the situation but were leaving it to the police. The campers packed up and left the scene yesterday afternoon.

What causes cliffs to collapse?

Cliffs collapse for a range of reasons.

While the most common reason is weathering, there are other factors to consider, such as water crashing against the cliff face, what the cliff is made of, and the climate of the area.

For example, softer materials, such as clay are more likely to collapse than harder materials like granite.

Bad weather naturally erodes the foundations of a cliff, and can cause it to collapse.

Visitors sunbathe dangerously close on the cliffs at Birling Gap in Sussex, ignoring warnings of cliff falls

Visitors sunbathe dangerously close on the cliffs at Birling Gap in Sussex, ignoring warnings of cliff falls

One of the most common examples of weathering is when rain fall affects the composition of the cliff. As rain falls, it seeps into the permeable gravel and soil at the top of the cliff, adding weight to it.

At the same time, colder winter temperatures can cause the face of this cliff to freeze, as frozen areas weaken as they thaw. If a cliff is against a body of water, such as a sea or ocean, waves crashing on the cliff can also weaken it over time.

Cliffs can also collapse as the result of rock slides, when whole slabs of rock detach from an inclined face and collapse, or as a result of mud slides, when wet soil and weak rocks fall.

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