Birling Gap, part of the famous Seven Sisters chalk cliffs in the UK, is one of the longest stretches of undeveloped coastline on the south coast. However, this cliff is slowly but surely crumbling due to erosion.
A recent photo showing a tourist posing near the edge of the cliff led authorities to issue renewed safety warnings.
‘It does look fine from the top but what [people] can’t see – as we do from the lifeboats – [is] how it’s underpinned,’ senior officer of The Royal National Lifeboat Institution, Mark Sawyer told BBC.
‘They can’t see the erosion underneath them. There’s some huge holes underneath the earth and the grass up there. There’s no chalk at all. It’s a matter of time before those cliffs go.’
Several tourist pictures have been criticised on social media due to their unsafe proximity to the cliff edge, despite warnings.
Sheer stupidity at this wedding photoshoot @BirlingGap. All pictured had ignored the temporary fencing and this photoshoot took place on the cliff edge. #cliffs #coastalerosion #dangerous #birlinggapcoastguard #bbcsoutheast pic.twitter.com/CDx5DVEybT
— Roz Bassford (@dogdaysarerover) July 20, 2018
Birling Gap, yesterday. It’s so dangerous, sitting and having your picnic so close to the edge. There are cracks in the chalk underneath you can’t see from up there and whole chunks can fall away beneath you. #pleasedont! #thelightkeeper https://t.co/wxqcoWZVaF @edgeofengland pic.twitter.com/EhWrxwkof7
— TheLightKeeper (@TheLightKeeper1) June 2, 2019
Those kids on the left are right on the cliff edge. Bit dangerous. (@ Birling Gap) https://t.co/I0JP9cjEjd pic.twitter.com/G1198HhCGq
— ray (@datasmog) April 1, 2016
Reckless tourists snap dangerous selfies at Birling Gap https://t.co/3lWmimGQ4H pic.twitter.com/ryY16Ec0P7
— Censored News UK🇬🇧 (@MyFreedomNews) January 21, 2018
The cliffs are a popular natural attraction that provide beach access as well as over 200 hectares of open chalk grassland for walks and picnics.
Image credit: Twitter/TheWordOfErynn
