Walker's 'Inches from Death' Escape as Cliff Collapses in Cornwall
A young walker has described how he escaped death 'by inches' after a huge cliff landslide crashed down just feet behind him during a coastal stroll in Cornwall. Kieron English, a 20-year-old delivery driver, was walking with his friend Rian Walker along a path in Newquay when a section of the cliff gave way without warning, trapping them and others with no safe escape route.
'High-Pitched Squeal' and Sudden Collapse
Minutes into their walk on Saturday afternoon, the pair heard a 'high-pitched squeal' and turned to see tonnes of soil and rock collapse just five feet behind them. Kieron recounted the terrifying moment, stating, 'Within about five minutes of us getting down there all we heard was a high-pitched squeal and we turned around and just saw the cliff collapse in front of us.'
He added, 'I have never seen that happen before in my life. My other thought was: 'how are we going to get out?'' The group, which included three other walkers and two dogs, found themselves stranded on a concrete section between the Fly Cellars and Huer's Hut, a spot suggested by Kieron's brother for its sea views.
Trapped with No Way Out
The situation quickly became perilous as the tide was too high to attempt swimming and the cliff was too unstable to climb. Kieron phoned 999, but while waiting for rescue, they 'kept seeing rocks and earth starting to fall again', heightening the danger. He reflected on the narrow escape, saying, 'If we were there 30 seconds to two minutes later I think we would have lost our lives.'
Kieron, who moved to the seaside town three months ago, was exploring the area with his friend. He expressed his shock, noting, 'I have never seen a cliff collapse or even a landslide ever in 20 years. I have never seen one.' After the rescue, his primary thought was 'getting back to land safe and felt grateful to still be alive.'
Complex Rescue Operation by Emergency Services
A major rescue operation was launched involving multiple agencies:
- Coastguard teams from Newquay and St Agnes
- Newquay RNLI lifeboats
- Devon and Cornwall Police
- Cornwall Fire and Rescue Service
Newquay RNLI volunteers were called at 3.06pm and landed their boat on a flat rock to evacuate the stranded walkers. Matt Robins of Newquay RNLI explained that although sea conditions 'weren't particularly rough', the rescue was 'difficult' due to the sea swell 'rising and falling against the rocks'. He warned, 'One minor slip could have seen the casualties fall into the water.'
Aftermath and Safety Warnings
After being evacuated, the walkers were taken to the harbour and offered hot drinks at the lifeboat station while checked for injuries. The coastguard has since declared the section of coastal path impassable and urged the public to avoid it. Kieron shared a sobering reflection on cliff safety, stating, 'You assume all cliffs are stable but obviously due to the weather and mother nature none of them are ever going to be safe again.'
This incident serves as a stark reminder of the unpredictable nature of coastal erosion and the vital role of emergency services in responding to such life-threatening situations.
