- The stunning photograph was taken at Birling Gap in East Sussex.
<!–
<!–
<!– <!–
<!–
<!–
<!–
A tourist has been pictured dangling his feet from the edge of a crumbling 400ft cliff.
The shocking image shows the man sitting, casually smoking a cigarette, at Birling Gap in East Sussex, ignoring warnings about the “fragile” and “soft” chalk.
The cliff, which is part of Seven Sisters National Park, is also just two miles from where two cliffs recently collapsed.
This occurred at nearby Seaford Head and Peacehaven, prompting the councils to team up with HM Coastguard and launch a campaign about the dangers of the unstable chalk cliffs.
However, their warnings seemed to be ignored and people continued walking to the edge.
The shocking image shows the man sitting casually smoking a cigarette while on the brink of a 400-foot drop.
The images were taken by JJ Waller at Birling Gap in East Sussex. He said that “visitors are not aware of how soft the chalk is and crowds flock to this place in search of the all-important selfies.”
Photographer JJ Waller captured the distressing image. He said: “This happens almost daily despite warnings.
‘Visitors are not aware of how soft the chalk is and crowds flock to this place in search of the all-important selfies.
‘But although it is a beautiful place, it demands respect and care. Never go near the limit.
The photographs were taken on Good Friday, the same day a terrifying incident occurred in Dorset, where a 30ft pile of rocks fell just meters from where families were taking an Easter walk.
A large section of the 180 million-year-old cliff at West Bay in Dorset, where the hit ITV drama Broadchurch was filmed, broke after being hit by Storm Nelson last week.
Further safety warnings have been issued following Mr Waller’s photographs, with East Sussex County Council warning that chalk can fall “at any time without warning”.
A spokesman said: “We continue to see people getting dangerously close to the edge of cliffs without realizing the dangers.”
‘The cliffs contain many ledges and crevices that visitors may not be able to see, and the unstable chalk can fall at any time without warning.
West Bay in Dorset, where a 30ft pile of rocks fell just meters from where families were taking an Easter walk on Good Friday
Seven Sisters National Park of which Birling Gap is part. The cliff where the photo was taken is also just two miles from where two cliffs recently collapsed (file image)
‘We want to encourage people to continue visiting the area safely. Don’t ignore the signs and stay away from the edge.
“It’s not worth risking your life to get the perfect selfie.”
The Maritime and Coastguard Agency also said it was not worth the risk to get “a dramatic image” and encouraged people not to forget about the dangers of erosion.
“Cliffs along the UK coast are continually eroding, with pieces falling from them that may be just a few small rocks or as big as a car,” a spokesperson said.
‘It is impossible to predict when the next piece will fall or what size it will be.
‘We really can’t stress enough how important it is to stay off the edge. There is no “safe” place to be.
‘If cracks have appeared, even if they are several meters from the edge, don’t be tempted to go investigate and don’t risk going to the edge to get a dramatic image.
“Please enjoy your walk along the coast, but make sure you and your loved ones return home safely.”
The agency added that special care should be taken after periods of rain, as this will make cliff edges even more vulnerable.