Huge cliff collapse almost hits sunbathers on Devon beach

Sunbathers on a beach in Devon narrowly escaped a massive cliff collapse.

Thousands of tons of rock crashed onto the sand at Budleigh Salterton, Devon on Saturday.

The terrifying moment, which saw a huge plume of dust billow across the sea, was caught on camera.

‘Thousands of tons must have come down,’ eyewitness James Walters told NeedToKnow.

‘Police, lifeboat and coastguards were there.

‘I don’t think anybody was injured, but they had to close the coast path.’

Some people became trapped on one side of the rock fall and had to be rescued by a lifeboat.

A spokesperson from Sidmouth Lifeboat said: ‘Sidmouth Independent Lifeboat was tasked by Solent Coastguard after a significant cliff collapse at Budleigh Beach.

‘The crew’s primary objective was to search for anyone caught in the fall zone and to support Beer and Exmouth Coastguard teams already on scene.

‘Upon arrival, lifeboat crew members discovered several people stranded on the wrong side of the cliff fall.

‘Two individuals were safely transferred back to Budleigh Beach.’

They thanked all the volunteers and agencies involved in the ‘swift response’.

Devon County Council has since closed sections of the coastal path.

‘Please remember: cliffs along this stretch of coastline are unstable. Keep a safe distance from the base and the edge, and follow all local safety warnings,’ the Sidmouth Lifeboat spokesperson added.

‘Please avoid the area and don’t attempt to circumvent the closures.’

Last year, a landslide damaged beach huts and narrowly missed a man at Bournemouth Beach in Dorset.

Fourteen huts were pushed into the promenade, a popular spot for a morning stroll.

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