Yahoo News Beachgoers criticised for sunbathing next to 'dangerous cliffs' sign
The family-of-five were sitting under dangerous cliffs at Staithes Beach in Saltburn-by-the-sea, North Yorkshire.
A family have been criticised after they pitched up their deckchairs to sunbathe at the foot of a cliff – right next to a sign warning them of danger.
The young family and their dog were seen sitting against the cliffs at Staithes beach in Saltburn-by-the-Sea in North Yorkshire as temperatures soared on Sunday.
But they were seemingly not concerned about the sign next to them that read: ‘Beware, dangerous cliffs.’
It is the same location where a nine-year-old girl died in a “freak accident” after being struck by a falling rock in 2018.
The photo was taken by Kerry Kidd, who noticed the family after she had been out dolphin spotting with her family.
Kidd said she didn't approach the family for fear of being shouted at, as she says she has experienced this before when trying to point out the danger to people.
Kidd, from Fylingthorpe, North Yorkshire, said: "I think the family were oblivious of the sign behind them and I don't want to name and shame, I just want to bring awareness of the dangers…
"It's just in the back of my mind that a little girl died on this beach when a rock fell.
"I know it was a freak accident but it could happen to anyone. We are aware of the dangers of the cliffs but lots of people aren't.”
Kidd uploaded the images to Facebook to raise awareness of the eroding coastline and the dangers of using the cliffs to escape the sun.
Facebook users were horrified by the family's “unbelievable” decision to sunbathe below the cliffs and criticised their actions.
One wrote: "Do they think these important signs are to hang their hats on? It makes me so angry."
Another added: "You couldn't make this up. Huge warning sign and they're sitting right beneath it."
Kidd said she sees and hears rocks falling from the cliffs on her walks all the time along the North Yorkshire coastline and warns how “one small rock could instantly kill you”.
She added that beaches should have more signposting to highlight the dangers of eroding cliffs on the coastline and sunbathers should bring an umbrella if they want some shade.
Why do cliff falls happen in the UK?
There is no one reason why cliff falls take place in the UK but the most common one is because of weathering.
As rain falls on the cliff it sees into the soil and gravel at the top, which adds extra weight.
In colder weather, the face of the cliff can freeze and, once thawed, they become weaker and prone to collapse.
Cliffs close to the ocean are also susceptible to collapse as a result of waves crashing against it over time and weakening the soil and gravel.
Bad weather can also naturally erode the foundations of a cliff, while clay cliffs are softer and more likely to collapse than granite one.
