A FAMILY has been branded “idiotic” for sunbathing at the base of a cliff notorious for falling rocks, right under a giant warning sign.
Kerry Kidd was horrified to see the family of five sitting under the cliffs at Staithes Beach in Saltburn-by-the-Sea, North Yorks on Sunday.
3
A shocking photo shows the family and their dog in deckchairs by the cliffs, beneath a sign reading “Beware of dangerous cliffs”.
It’s the same spot where a nine-year-old girl tragically died in a freak accident in 2018 when a rock fell on her.
Nine-year-old Harriet Forster was playing in a rock pool when a falling rock hit her in the head.
Tragically, she suffered severe head injuries and died at the scene of the accident.
Kerry was out with her husband Graham when she saw the family.
She said she didn’t approach them for fear of being yelled at – something she’s experienced before when trying to warn people of the danger.
She uploaded the images to Facebook to raise awareness of the dangers of using the cliffs for shade.
Facebook users were appalled, calling the family’s actions “stupid” and “idiotic.”
Kerry said, “You probably looked at that sign and thought, ‘I’m not going climbing’.” [so didn’t think it referred to them] or maybe they didn’t even notice.
“I just have in mind that on this beach a little girl died when a rock fell.
“I know it was a terrible accident, but it could happen to anyone.”
“We are aware of the dangers of the cliffs, but many people are not.”
Kerry said she saw many people seeking shade under the cliffs and that there was no escaping the rocks when they fell.
“They think it wouldn’t happen to them, but the little girl and family didn’t think it would happen to them, but it did.”
Kerry said she constantly sees and hears rocks falling from cliffs as she walks along the North Yorkshire coast and warned that “a little rock could kill you instantly”.
The director of a second-hand clothing store said beaches should have more signage to draw attention to the dangers of eroding coastal cliffs.
Kerry said: “The signs they have there may not be clear enough for people who are not local, so we might need more signs and clearer signs.”
“Perhaps plaques should be put up to commemorate those who died [in this way] in the area as warning signs and maybe there should be more warning signs in general.”
Facebook users quickly drew attention to the family’s inattentive behavior.
One user commented, “Do you think these important signs are for hanging your hats? That makes me so angry.”
Another angry Facebook user said, “It’s beyond stupid.”
“They obviously have children with them just by looking at the buckets and spades.
“Why, oh why, after the tragic loss of a little girl’s life.”
3
3