AN urgent safety warning has been issued by Eastbourne RNLI crews after a huge overhang was seen at Beachy Head during a routine patrol.
During a routine inshore lifeboat service call in the area, RNLI volunteers spotted severe and unseen erosion along sections of the cliff face that have created dangerously unstable overhangs, invisible from above and liable to collapse without a moment’s notice.
The crew who regularly patrol the coastline were alarmed by the extent of the damage.
Some cliff sections now hang precariously, hollowed out beneath the surface, posing a silent threat to unsuspecting walkers and their pets.
The lifeboat team is urging all visitors to Beachy Head and the surrounding clifftop paths to exercise extreme caution. Stay at least five metres away from the edge at all times, and keep dogs securely on leads.
This comes as East Sussex enters peak walking season, attracting thousands of hikers, tourists and local residents. But, with the ground beneath their feet quite literally giving way, the RNLI’s warning is ‘getting too close could be fatal’.
