Moment big cliff collapses sending 1000’s of tons of rocks tumbling 130ft onto English seaside
An unstable cliff has sent massive boulders the size of cars plummeting onto a popular south coast beach.
Hundreds of tons of debris blanketed the sand where, just minutes before, dozens of people were walking near the 130ft-high cliffs at Barton-on-Sea, Hampshire.
New Forest District Council confirmed there were no reports of any injuries but authorities are still warning people to stay away from the unstable area.
A few weeks ago a dog was killed after another rockfall along the same stretch of coastline.
Richard Harding recalled the moment he watched in horror as his beloved spaniel, Harley was buried alive under a landslide while they were walking along the beach.
Harley was running around the off the lead when a section of cliff suddenly collapsed, leaving Mr Harding feeling helpless as he watched tons of mud and rock fall onto his three-year-old dog.
Despite the cliff remaining unstable, he risked his life digging through the fallen debris while desperately trying to find Harley.
But the coastguard told him Harley would have died, and it was not safe for him to stay under the cliff.
The moment a huge cliff gave way and caused a massive landslide with hundreds of tons of debris blanketed the beach
The cliff at Barton-on-Sea where a dog was buried alive after a landslip on December 8
The concerned resident said the risk of danger is even greater now a barrier fence stopping people from walking there had been pulled down.
He was devastated he had to leave the beach without Harley, who was buried under the rockfall and left with his other dog on December 8.
Mr Harding said: ‘It wasn’t great conditions. But we were out walking like we often do. I let my dogs off, they’re little spaniels and they just run about, chasing sticks on the beach.
‘I looked at her and then suddenly I just saw this massive landslide come off the cliff. She just completely disappeared underneath it.
‘It was completely shocking and surreal.
‘So I started digging and trying to find her and shouting for her, but I guess I kind of knew there was no way she was going to survive it.
‘All the time you’re digging, you’re conscious that the cliff is unstable.
‘My other dog was still there too. You’re just thinking the cliff could come down again at any moment.
‘The last thing I want is to stop people enjoying the beach. But people need to be aware of the dangers.
‘Keep dogs away from the cliff, stay clear of the rough sea, and only walk there at low tide when it’s safe.’
The latest cliff fall happened at about 4pm on Sunday.
Richard Subide said on Sunday: ‘While on a walk at the beach front this afternoon, I captured this significant cliff fall happening on the lower beach.
‘Filmed from behind the barriers at 16.04 today, it shows the scale of ongoing coastal erosion here.
‘These last couple of years has seen significant movement along the Barton cliff top.
‘Scarily, the fall was right below one of the narrowest parts of the clifftop pathway and people were walking along there just minutes before and after that happened.
‘Unfortunately, just a few days ago, someone decided to pull away the barrier fencing that New Forest District Council have put up thus now allowing people to traverse it and venture down to the lower beach.’
