Heart-in-mouth moment visitor risks his life to look over 150ft cliff at Birling Gap

As thousands of Britons flocked to the nation’s parks and beaches today to bask in 79F temperatures, one reveller decided to risk his life by hanging off the edge of an unstable 150ft cliff.

Shocking images captured at the Birling Gap cliffs, near Eastbourne, in East Sussex, today showed the unknown man peering over the cliffs and putting himself in grave danger.

Despite the imminent danger to his life, the man, who was not wearing a harness of any safety equipment, continued to look over the cliff edge as he clung to a wall.

The heart-pounding scene comes as stark warnings urging people to beware of the perilous cliffs have continued to be ignored by visitors amid the pandemic. 

Despite the imminent danger to his life, the man, appeared to be stood at 150ft from the cliff edge

The unknown man stood at the edge of the Birling Gap cliffs, near Eastbourne, in East Sussex, today

The unknown man stood at the edge of the Birling Gap cliffs, near Eastbourne, in East Sussex, today

Today revellers sat on the grass by the edge of the cliffs in Easbourne today to have a picnic

Today revellers sat on the grass by the edge of the cliffs in Easbourne today to have a picnic

Tourists flocked to the beauty spot today as temperatures continued to soar across the UK

Tourists flocked to the beauty spot today as temperatures continued to soar across the UK

A Birling Gap Coastguard spokeswoman said: ‘We really can’t stress enough how important it is to keep back from cliff edges. There is no ”safe” place to be and the cliffs along the UK coastline are continuously eroding.

‘Use the designated paths, take notice of any warning signs, be responsible and don’t take any unnecessary risks.

‘It’s more important than ever to take extra care in these extraordinary times. Coronavirus hasn’t gone away and your choices might put our frontline responders at risk.

‘As always, if you see anyone in trouble, call 999 and ask for the Coastguard.’  

Elsewhere in West Bay, Dorset, alarming photos showed foolhardy sun-seekers risking their lives by posing on the edge of an unstable 150ft cliff.

A number of walkers were spotted at the top of the crumbling sandstone cliffs at West Bay, Dorset, which featured in the ITV crime drama Broadchurch.

One man, who was part of a group, made light of the danger he was putting himself in by doing a Superman pose while another took his young child right to the edge of the cliffs that are prone to sudden rockfalls to take the ‘perfect photo’.

The worrying snaps were taken by photographer Graham Hunt who said one slip could have resulted in tragedy.

He said: ‘They must have been only two or three feet away from the cliff edge.

Today a sun-seeker was spotted making a Superman pose as he stood on the edge of the  150ft cliff at West Bay, Dorset

Today a sun-seeker was spotted making a Superman pose as he stood on the edge of the  150ft cliff at West Bay, Dorset

A couple decided to venture to the edge of the cliff, which featured in the ITV crime drama Broadchurch, despite warning to stay way

A couple decided to venture to the edge of the cliff, which featured in the ITV crime drama Broadchurch, despite warning to stay way 

At Peacehaven in East Sussex, coastguard rescue teams were called to the scene today following reports that a base jumper has been had been injured on the beach

At Peacehaven in East Sussex, coastguard rescue teams were called to the scene today following reports that a base jumper has been had been injured on the beach

The base jumperwas  caught out by the tide and became stranded before emergency teams were called to the scene

The base jumperwas  caught out by the tide and became stranded before emergency teams were called to the scene

A Coastguard team was dispatched to assist with the rescue after the man was left injured

A Coastguard team was dispatched to assist with the rescue after the man was left injured

‘Those cliffs are really unstable and prone to rock falls.

‘They seem to be trying to get the perfect picture but one slip and you’d lose your balance and that would be it.’ 

A spokesman for West Bay coastguard posted on social media: ‘Our advice on the cliffs is very simple – stay well away. Admire it from a distance but keep yourself safe and keep your family safe.

‘It seems like a never-ending cycle of people going up to the edge of the cliffs and our core advice has always been the same.

‘Before you go and take that picture, ask yourself is it really worth risking not only your own life, but the life of your family?’

Meanwhile at Peacehaven in East Sussex, coastguard rescue teams were called to the scene today following reports that a base jumper has been had been injured on the beach.

The shocking images come just a day after a little girl was pulled back from the edge after she was spotted peering over the cliffs near Eastbourne which form part of Seven Sisters national park near Beachy Head.

The girl – who’s hair was blowing in the strong wind – was just inches away from the sheer drop before she was swiftly pulled back by an adult.

Tourists have faced repeat warnings about the dangers of the East Sussex location, with its crumbling chalk cliffs frequently giving way in bad weather.  

The scenes come as sun-worshippers continued to descend upon the country’s parks and beaches today amid an expected 79F heatwave. 

A little girl was dragged back from the edge of the cliff in Sussex after she peered over

An adult notices that the young girl  is just inches away from the sheer drop and rapidly pulls her back

Yesterday a little girl was dragged back from the edge of the cliff in Sussex after she peered over

With parts of the country set to bask in temperatures hotter than Athens, Nice and Barcelona today, more revellers are expected to flock to the nations beauty spots. 

However locals at English beauty spots appealed for day-trippers to stay away to avoid large crowds that could make it impossible for people to remain six feet apart. 

Caroline Lucas, the MP for Brighton Pavilion, tweeted: ‘If you were thinking about visiting #Brighton & #Hove this Bank Holiday, please don’t.

‘Our beautiful city would love to welcome you back as soon as it’s safe – but that’s not yet. With so many services still closed & challenges with social distancing, its not business as usual.’

But visitors to Woolacombe in Dorset claimed the lack of any punishment for Dominic Cummings jarred with the government’s efforts to enforce the lockdown.

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