THE VICTIM of a fatal cliff fall at Durdle Door was a woman in her 40s who slipped and fell in front of horrified beachgoers, it has emerged.
Police say the woman was from the West Midlands and are not treating her death as suspicious.
A crowd had gathered on the beach and on the cliff and urged her to remain where she was as emergency services were on their way, according to witness accounts.
Emergency services, including police officers, ambulance crews and firefighters, were called in response to a ‘person falling from height’ at Man O’War beach at 3.07pm.
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The woman in her 40s, who has not been formally identified, was pronounced dead at the scene.
A witness, who was on holiday with his family at the time, described it as an ‘ill-judged accident’.
Dorset Police say officers are now investigating the circumstances of this death and are carrying out enquires to understand what has happened. They say the death is not being treated as suspicious.
A spokeswoman for Dorset Police said: “At 3.07pm on Monday, June 14, Dorset Police received a report that a woman aged in her 40s from the West Midlands area had fallen from a cliff at Durdle Door near Lulworth.
“Officers attended together with other emergency services colleagues.
“Sadly, the woman was pronounced dead at the scene.
“Officers are supporting her next of kin and will be conducting enquiries following this tragic incident on behalf of HM Coroner.
“There were no suspicious circumstances.”
HM Coastguard said it coordinated the response following multiple 999 calls to the incident.
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A spokesman said: “Lulworth and Kimmeridge Coastguard Rescue Teams, along with HM Coastguard’s helicopter from Lee-on-Solent were sent along with South Western Ambulance and Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service and Dorset Police.”
A spokeswoman for Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service confirmed that fire crews from Bere Regis, Dorchester and Weymouth were at the scene to support emergency services.
She said: “We were called at 3.14pm after reports that someone had fallen from height at Man O’War beach.
“We have crews from Bere Regis and Dorchester in attendance, along with a technical rescue team from Weymouth.”
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