A popular beach on the south coast has been hit by a dramatic and dangerous cliff fall, with massive boulders the size of cars crashing onto the sand. The incident at Barton-on-Sea in Hampshire occurred on Sunday afternoon, blanketing the beach in hundreds of tonnes of debris.
Narrow Escape for Beachgoers
The substantial rockfall happened at approximately 4 pm. Eyewitness Richard Subide captured the moment, describing it as a significant cliff fall on the lower beach. He noted the terrifying proximity to a narrow section of the clifftop path, where people had been walking just minutes before and after the collapse.
New Forest District Council confirmed there were no reports of injuries from Sunday's event. However, they have issued a stern warning for people to stay away from the unstable cliffs, which stand around 130 feet high.
A Tragic Precedent: Dog Buried Alive
This latest collapse follows a fatal incident just weeks earlier along the same stretch of coastline. In early December, a dog walker, Richard Harding, experienced a horrific tragedy when a section of the cliff gave way as he walked his two spaniels.
Mr Harding recounted the moment his three-year-old dog, Harley, was buried alive under a sudden landslide of mud and rock. Despite the ongoing danger and the unstable cliff face, he risked his life to dig through the debris in a desperate attempt to find his pet.
"I looked at her and then suddenly I just saw this massive landslide come off the cliff. She just completely disappeared underneath it," Mr Harding said. The coastguard later informed him that Harley would not have survived and that it was unsafe to remain in the area.
Safety Barriers Removed, Risk Increased
Concerns over public safety have been heightened after reports that a protective barrier fence, installed by the council to prevent access to dangerous areas, was recently pulled down. This action now allows people to traverse the area and venture onto the lower beach, significantly increasing the risk of injury or worse.
Richard Harding, still devastated by the loss of his dog, has urged the public to exercise extreme caution. "Keep dogs away from the cliff, stay clear of the rough sea, and only walk there at low tide when it's safe," he advised, emphasising he does not want to stop people from enjoying the beach but wants them to be aware of the very real dangers.
Ongoing Coastal Erosion Crisis
The cliff fall underscores the severe and ongoing issue of coastal erosion at Barton-on-Sea. Eyewitnesses and locals have observed significant movement along the cliff top over the last couple of years, with the landscape constantly changing and becoming more perilous.
Authorities continue to monitor the situation closely. The primary message remains clear: the cliffs are highly unstable, and the public must heed warnings to stay away from the base and edges of the cliffs for their own safety. The combination of natural erosion and potential human interference with safety measures creates a volatile and hazardous environment on this picturesque stretch of the Hampshire coast.
