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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
National
Sam Elliott

Beauty spot danger warning as woman poses for snap across crack in crumbling cliff

Tourists heading to a beauty spot where daredevils pose for risky photos have been warned to stop putting their lives at risk.

Birling Gap is an idyllic coastal hamlet between the Seven Sisters and Beachy Head.

Situated near Eastbourne, some of it's chalky cliff has already broken away - and one expert believes it "won't be long until it goes".

Now a photo of a woman posing for a picture across a large crack has gone viral - leading to fresh safety warnings.

Last month a man fell to his death from the top of one of the imposing cliffs.

The warning comes after a man fell to his death from Birling Gap last month (Adam Gerrard / Daily Mirror)

People have been reminded to keep away from the hazardous edges as pictures circulated online.

RNLI coxwain Mark Sawyer, a south coast safety expert, spoke of the dangers.

He told the BBC: "It does look fine from the top but what people can't see - as we do from the lifeboats - is how it's underpinned.

"They can't see the erosion underneath them.

"There's some huge holes underneath the earth and the grass up there.

The National Trust have told visitors they must stay away from the edge. (Daily Mirror)

"There's no chalk at all. It's a matter of time before those cliffs go."

Three weeks ago a man lost his life after a cliff fall.

Wealden District Council said in a tweet at the time: "Our thanks to the ambulance service, Beachy Head chaplains and National Trust staff for their help during this morning’s incident."

The National Trust, which owns Birling Gap, have demanded that visitors act sensibly and stay away from the edge.

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