I was supposed to be going to Lyme Regis on Saturday, but went up to see Matt at Bisley. I would have been on Charmouth Beach about 3pm if I'd gone to Lyme, Mrs Vito likes to hunt for fossils....
Look at what happend!
ANdy
UK. No fatalities after Coastguard rescues seventeen after cliff falls
Saturday, 14 January 2006
Coastguard news:
At eighteen minutes past three this afternoon, Portland Coastguard received a telephone call from the warden at the Charmouth Heritage Coastal centre. He reported that there had been a massive cliff landslide.
Portland Coastguard called out the Lyme Regis Coastguard Rescue team to attend the scene and placed the Coastguard rescue helicopter 'Whiskey Bravo' on standby and Lyme Regis RNLI lifeboat.
When the Coastguards arrived at the site of the cliff fall, it was reported to them by a fossiler that there may be several people trapped the wrong side of the fall with the tide rising fast.
The Coastguard Rescue team rescued one child who was in the mud up to his chest and also his father who attempted to rescue his son. Fifteen other people were also led to safety by the Coastguards, including two hangliders who had landed on the beach the wrong side of the fall. A local fossiler believed the fall to be the largest he had seen for thirty years with a possibility of more to fall. Coastguards are checking the land above the fall on the cliff path to ascertain its stability.
West Dorset District Council have closed the beach and placed signs warning the public to stay away from the dangerous area.
Dave Gregory, Watch Manager, Portland Coastguard said: "We would warn everybody to take great care when ever they are walking on cliff paths or beaches, where there may be a possibility of cliff falls. We would also advise the public who frequent this area, to heed the warning signs and closure notices, established by the local authority. The Coastguard Rescue team's fast response ensured there were no fatalities."
Last Updated ( Saturday, 14 January 2006 )
http://www.bymnews.com/new/content/view/23524/82/