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Teenage boy risks his life by posing for photo on edge of 150ft crumbling cliffs made famous by Broadchurch – despite safety warnings over massive rockfall
A teenage boy was photographed standing on the edge of the 150ft cliffs at West Bay in Dorset, the sandstone clifftop made famous as a filming location for the ITV drama Broadchurch, despite repeated warnings about the danger of rockfalls in the area. The image has drawn criticism because the cliffs are known to be unstable and prone to sudden, large-scale collapses, meaning anyone standing close to the edge risks serious injury or death.
The cliffs, part of the Jurassic Coast, are geologically soft and eroding, and local authorities and coastguard services have repeatedly urged visitors and photographers to stay well back from the edge and away from the base of the cliffs. Such warnings have followed previous rockfalls in the area, some involving substantial volumes of rock and debris, underlining the risk posed by people, including tourists drawn by the location's on-screen fame, venturing too close for photographs.
In short
- Teenage boy photographed on edge of unstable Broadchurch cliffs
- 150ft West Bay cliffs are prone to sudden, dangerous rockfalls
- Incident highlights repeated safety warnings to stay away from the edge
Explained simply
West Bay is a coastal area in Dorset, on the Jurassic Coast. Its tall sandstone cliffs featured in the ITV drama Broadchurch, attracting visitors who come to see the filming locations.
The cliffs are soft and erode over time, so sections can collapse without warning. Local authorities and coastguard services advise people to keep well away from both the cliff edge and the base, where falling rock and debris can cause serious harm.