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Following the incident, Devon County Council has closed the affected section of the coastal path indefinitely.
Rescuers were able to safely assist stranded people back to Budleigh Beach (Image: Beer Coastguard Rescue Team/Facebook)
The lives of several sunbathers were put at risk when a huge rock fell from a cliff near a beach in East Devon, England, on July 26. The incident occurred at approximately 3:50 pm local time at Budleigh Salterton Beach. Fortunately, there have been no reports of injury as emergency services responded swiftly to the situation.
What began as a fun weekend for many beachgoers nearly turned tragic last Saturday. A massive chunk of rock and debris suddenly fell from a nearby cliff, endangering numerous people, as shown in the video shared by The Sun. Those on the opposite side of the cliff collapse found themselves stranded. However, rescuers were able to safely assist them back to Budleigh Beach with the help of the Sidmouth Lifeboat and its crew members.
James Walters, an eyewitness who spoke to NeedToKnow, said, “Thousands of tons must have come down. Police, lifeboat and coastguards were there. I don’t think anybody was injured, but they had to close the coast path.”
Following the incident, Devon County Council has closed the affected section of the coastal path indefinitely. A spokesperson for Sidmouth Lifeboat also warned that this stretch of coastline is known for having unstable cliffs and urged both locals and visitors to avoid the area unless necessary. The public has been advised to take all appropriate precautions.
According to the BBC, the rescue team successfully evacuated two people who were stranded near the collapsed cliff area. The crew conducted a thorough search of the surrounding area but found no additional individuals in danger.
“Please remember cliffs along this stretch of coastline are unstable,” said the Sidmouth Lifeboat spokesperson.
Paul Wakefield, a local resident, told the BBC that a similar cliff fall had occurred earlier in 2023 at the same part of the beach. Once again, a large section of the cliff had collapsed, underscoring the ongoing risks faced by visitors to the area.
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