A sightseer was just feet away from death as 50,000 tons of chalk gave way and a cliff collapsed into the sea in East Sussex
A sightseer was just feet away from death as 50,000 tons of chalk gave way and a cliff collapsed into the sea in East Sussex
A sightseer was just feet away from death as 50,000 tons of chalk gave way and a cliff collapsed into the sea, claiming the life of a woman in her 20s.

The cliffs at Seaford Head in East Sussex have been hit by three unexpected collapses in just two days.

The first happened on Wednesday afternoon, taking a huge section of the coastline with it. Yesterday afternoon there was another collapse, before a giant crack tore into an 80ft chalk-face leading to the third cliff fall last night.

Now photographs have emerged of people peering over the edge of Birling Gap, which is roughly six miles from where the cliffs collapsed at Seaford yesterday.

Rescuers yesterday found the body of a woman in her 20s who is believed to have fallen from a clifftop around the time of the dramatic rockfall.

And as the Coastguard has issued a warning urging people to avoid the area, photographs have come to light which show a person teetering near the edge despite the imminent danger.



The cliffs at Seaford Head in East Sussex have now been hit by three unexpected collapses in just two days
The cliffs at Seaford Head in East Sussex have now been hit by three unexpected collapses in just two days
The identity of the woman found just before 5pm at Cuckmere Haven in the Seven Sisters park is still unknown.

Barry Miles, 67, an amateur photographer from Beckenham, London, was taking pictures when the cliff collapsed.

He said: 'Someone said 'look, look what's happening' so I just kept taking photographs.

'It wasn't until someone said later that it was a cliff collapsed, that I fully realised what had happened.

'When I took the photos I thought it was a large wave and spray. There was no noise that I could hear of the cliff collapsing.'

Cliff falls, but nothing on this scale, are known to happen along the stretch of coastline with warning signs and taped-off areas in place to prevent tourists from getting too close to the edge and taking selfies.

Coastguards are now warning the public to keep away from the unstable cliffs at Seaford.

Sightseers were seen looking over the edge and sitting on top of Birling Gap, roughly six miles from Seaford Head
Sightseers were seen looking over the edge and sitting on top of Birling Gap, roughly six miles from Seaford Head
Dozens of people were seen happily having picnics and exploring the cliff's edge while two other explorers were seen walking on the beach underneath
Dozens of people were seen happily having picnics and exploring the cliff's edge while two other explorers were seen walking on the beach underneath
However last night people were witnessed getting close to the edge despite a number of warnings issued by HM Coastguard that the area is 'extremely unstable'.

Authorities have now urged bathers and ramblers to steer clear of the cliffs for fear more sections may continue to collapse.

Coastguards are warning the public to keep away from the unstable cliffs at Seaford following three separate cliff falls over the last 48 hours, all within a close proximity of one another at Seaford Head
Coastguards are warning the public to keep away from the unstable cliffs at Seaford following three separate cliff falls over the last 48 hours, all within a close proximity of one another at Seaford Head

A second cliff collapsed in East Sussex - just 24 hours after 50,000 tonnes of chalk and earth crashed on to the shore
A second cliff collapsed in East Sussex - just 24 hours after 50,000 tonnes of chalk and earth crashed on to the shore

A third cliff (pictured) then came crashing into the sea, leading to the Coastguard issuing a warning
A third cliff (pictured) then came crashing into the sea, leading to the Coastguard issuing a warning
A spokesman for East Sussex Fire and Rescue said they were called at 2.22pm on Thursday to reports a person had fallen from a cliff in the Seven Sisters Country Park. The death is not being treated as suspicious.

He said: 'Two fire engines from Newhaven and Eastbourne were sent to the scene along with officers and the Bexhill and Battle rope rescue units. Coastguard and Sussex Police were also in attendance.'

A Coastguard spokesman added: 'East Sussex Fire Service requested UK Coastguard assistance at an incident at Seven Sisters.

'Birling Gap and Eastbourne Coastguard Rescue Teams and the UK Coastguard search and rescue helicopter based at Lydd were sent to the scene, alongside the South East Ambulance Service and the Sussex Fire Service.'

It comes as a girl in a pink top seen moments before the Seaford Head cliff collapse on Thursday afternoon was found safe and well.

In a tweet the Maritime and Coastguard said: '#SEAFORD UPDATE - Report received on scene that the female in pink top was seen walking away from the cliff fall safe and well.'

Mark Rodway OBE, Maritime Commander, said: 'We are warning beach goers to keep away from the Seaford cliffs area so the emergency services can carry out their work.

'The cliffs along the UK coastline are continually eroding and we've seen a number of cliff collapses in recent months - last night's fall was several thousand tonnes and we are unsure at the current time of the exact scale of the one today.

'It's impossible to predict when the next piece might fall or how big it will be.

'It's very clear that cliffs are unstable in places and we really can't stress enough how important it is to keep back from the edge.'

The coastguard warned there is no safe place to be and taking selfies on the cliffs endangered life.

On Wednesday a dramatic cliff fall also took place at the shore, near Eastbourne, East Sussex
On Wednesday a dramatic cliff fall also took place at the shore, near Eastbourne, East Sussex
Commander Rodway added: 'Don't be tempted to go and investigate recent falls and don't risk going to the edge to get a dramatic photo.

'One of our biggest problems is the 'selfie-culture' where people take risks to get a dramatic photograph of themselves on a dangerous cliff edge - no selfie is worth risking your life for.'

Seaford Town Council clerk, James Corrigan, said: 'It was inevitable there would be further falls over the course of the next couple of weeks.

'We could see from examining the cracks last night there were going to be further falls.

'It's not a surprise but we didn't know it was going to be today.

'This one started further along the coast from the one Wednesday and it's a comparable size but we can only see from the land.

Large parts of Seaford Head around Splash Point, where the slide occurred, were roped off after cracks appeared on Wednesday
Large parts of Seaford Head around Splash Point, where the slide occurred, were roped off after cracks appeared on Wednesday
'It's in an area where you don't normally get walkers but the Coastguard have been out with their heat seeking camera making sure there isn't anybody trapped.'

'The area directly beneath the cliff we call 'Splash Point' that's where it was yesterday and has happened again today.'

A huge rescue operation was launched at around 4pm on Wednesday after the rocks crashed into the waters, throwing up a huge wave that stunned crowds.

Emergency services believe it is extremely lucky there was no loss of life after a massive chunk of cliff face chalk plunged into the sea, around six miles from the famous Seven Sisters cliffs.

Large parts of Seaford Head around Splash Point, where the slide occurred, were roped off after cracks appeared.

Earlier warnings about the loose chalk attracted people looking to take death defying pictures of themselves on the clifftop.