Just east of Christy and Andy's are the dramatic white cliffs known as the Seven Sisters. We have walked along the top of them many times and, several times at low tide, along the accessible beaches at the base. C&A often kayak or sail with their friends Chris and Gabby to one of the inaccessable beaches beneath the cliffs for a picnic.
Last Saturday while C&A were away for the weekend, Chris and Gabby went on their own and were lying on the beach after lunch when a large chunk of rock gave way on the cliff above, landing on Chris' hip and hand. He was in severe pain and Gabby first pulled him away from the cliff in case more rock fell but then had to drag him back up the shingle as the tide came in. She eventually got the attention of some fishermen in a passing boat who called the coast guard but they couldn't get their boat close enough and called in the rescue helicopter. Chris was winched to safety on the clifftop and had surgery on his hand and hip and is making a good recovery. It could have been so much worse.
That'll be the end of their picnics beneath the cliffs and we'll keep further back from the edge when we are walking from now on - in the past we've often lain on the edge of the cliffs looking over the edge at the thousands of sea birds who hollow out nests in the chalk face - I guess we've done that for the last time. A couple of years ago a father and son were flying a kite on the clifftop and the dad stepped backwards over the cliff to his death. So sad in such a beautiful place.
Last Saturday while C&A were away for the weekend, Chris and Gabby went on their own and were lying on the beach after lunch when a large chunk of rock gave way on the cliff above, landing on Chris' hip and hand. He was in severe pain and Gabby first pulled him away from the cliff in case more rock fell but then had to drag him back up the shingle as the tide came in. She eventually got the attention of some fishermen in a passing boat who called the coast guard but they couldn't get their boat close enough and called in the rescue helicopter. Chris was winched to safety on the clifftop and had surgery on his hand and hip and is making a good recovery. It could have been so much worse.
That'll be the end of their picnics beneath the cliffs and we'll keep further back from the edge when we are walking from now on - in the past we've often lain on the edge of the cliffs looking over the edge at the thousands of sea birds who hollow out nests in the chalk face - I guess we've done that for the last time. A couple of years ago a father and son were flying a kite on the clifftop and the dad stepped backwards over the cliff to his death. So sad in such a beautiful place.
