A tourist at the scene of the dramatic rockfall in West Bay, Dorset, said it was a ‘miracle’ no one was hurt after a video showed the cliff face crashing down onto a beach made famous by TV’s Broadchurch
Dramatic footage has captured the terrifying moment a Dorset cliffside came crashing down, causing people to run in fear as the force of the blow belched out a large dust cloud.
Dorset Council posted the shock video on social media showing the cliff collapsing while people watched on from a beach in West Bay, on the Jurassic Coast, on Tuesday. The footage shows the cliff face falling away in a matter of seconds just after 4pm and landing on the beach below in front of three people, who rush towards the camera in a panic.
The incident, described as a “rockfall” by the council, saw the local path on top of the cliff closed. The council also issued an urgent warning issued to anyone planning to go to the beach.
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Posting the video on Instagram, Dorset Council said in a statement that the beach – made famous by TV series Broadchurch – remained open after the rockfall. But the council issued a warning to people about the possibility of another similar incident.
The council said: “The cliff path remains closed. The beach is open but remember that rockfalls and landslips can happen at any time. If you are out on the coast, please stay safe by taking notice of warning signs and keep to existing paths. Stay away from the edge and the base of cliffs.”
According to the Maritime and Coastguard Agency, a rescue team was sent to the area after the cliff fall was reported. However, “no one was found to be in distress”.
Rockfall incidents on the West Bay are very common, happening regularly due to the Dorset cliff’s sandstone composition, making them highly vulnerable to erosion. Typically, they are caused by heavy rain and other types of adverse weather, and measures are put in place to ensure no one is hurt by the dangerous movement.
A Dorset visitor staying in the area at the time of the rockfall said she thought it was “a miracle” that no one was hurt during the incident.
Speaking to the BBC, Suzanne Sears, who was visiting the area from Hemel Hempstead in Hertfordshire, said she and her family were walking around 20 metres from the cliff when she heard “a deep cracking noise”. She said: “I looked up and saw dust falling, followed soon after by a large and loud rockfall, which then created a big pile of rubble and large dust cloud.
“It was a miracle nobody was hurt as the beach was busy with dog walkers and people taking a sunset stroll.” She added that she was impressed with the response of local officials, who she said arrived within just 10 minutes.
