Tourists spotted on UK cliff edge despite warnings of recent collapses

02 May 2023 , 13:30

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Walkers got close to the edge of Bank Holiday Monday

Bank holiday day trippers were seen perilously close to the edge of a cliff which has endured major sudden collapses in recent years.

Young and old were spotted peering into the abyss atop the

on Monday, seemingly unbothered by the sheer drop in front of them.

In one leg-wobbling shot one man can be seen lunging powerfully forward - his foot mere inches from the edge - so he can peer down at the rocks below.

Some were seen having a picnic and doing piggy back rides at the famous landmark.

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The East Sussex cliffs are a big tourist attraction due to the their striking structure, heady drops and iconic chalk-white colouring.

Some brave souls got very close to the edge

The Seven Sisters rise to a height of 200m from sea level at their highest point.

As well as the possibility that you may lose your footing and fall off, the cliffs pose a danger in themselves.

In March parts of the cliffs crumbled into the sea below, leaving a gaping hole in it.

Walkers ignored the prospect of the cliffs crumbling ("Brighton Pictures" <send+brighton_pictures@sendonce.io>)

At the end of 2022 there was a similar large and sudden land slip at Birling Gap section of the Seven Sisters which saw an area of the beach closed off for several months.

In February there was another cliff fall on the Underground Path walk near Saltdean and Peacehaven, which also saw the walkway closed due to safety concerns.

A large crack formed in the cliffs close to Seaford in March this year, prompting a warning for walkers to stay away.

Some edged closer and closer to the edge

A spokesperson for the South Downs National Park Authority said at the time: "Given the unstable nature of chalk, cliff falls happen at random as part of natural coastal erosion processes.

"Periods of intense rainfall will often make cliff edges more vulnerable.

"Cliffs can be more unstable than they look, and cliff falls, or landslides can happen without warning."

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HM Coastguard warned anyone trying to take a selfie close to cliffs that "it could be the last photo you ever take".

Do you think the tourists are taking a huge risk? Let us know in the comments below.

Milo Boyd