| In the last fortnight alone, coastguard emergency rescue teams in the area, along with lifeboats, RAF search and rescue helicopters and police, have been involved in six incidents that could well have had fatal or seriously disabling consequences.
Fearing call-outs could escalate as the summer hots up, pushing up the numbers of visitors to the area, and stretching the emergency resources to their limits, the coastguard’s Montrose sector manager Darryl White warned parents, in particular, to be sure children were aware of clifftop dangers.
Despite repeated warnings, he said, some people still were clearly not paying heed.
Clearly frustrated by some of the irresponsible behaviour he has witnessed, he said, “We have all been kept very busy recovering cliff fallers, searching for missing persons and attending to persons cut off by the tide.
“We are very concerned that some members of the public still do not seem to be aware of the dangers along the shoreline and cliffs between Stonehaven and Arbroath.
“We would urge the public to become more aware of the dangers posed by standing too near the edge of a cliff.
“The cliff edges are very friable and do break off very easily with just the weight of a single person.
“If not fatal, falling to the rocks below can confine the victim for the rest of life to a wheelchair.
“Some people think it fun and quite safe to climb the cliffs, only to find the rock and soil gives way underneath their feet.
“The cliff face is very unstable and is considered quite dangerous even for experienced climbers with specialist equipment.”
He warned, “People should stay away from the edges of the cliffs, they should not be climbing them or throwing things over, or standing immediately under the cliffs. Children and pets should always be kept under control.
“As we move into the school holidays it is vital parents talk to their children and make sure they understand the dangers.
“The people putting themselves at risk are generally local people who really should know better.”
HM Coastguard is an emergency service for all coastal rescues. To call for help dial 999 and ask for the Coastguard. For tidal or other information, local stations can be contacted on 01333 450666.
In the latest incident, a 42-year-old man had to be evacuated by helicopter from Arbroath cliffs yesterday after he fell and sustained a serious ankle injury while climbing with a companion on the crags.
The incident occurred at a spot known locally as The Rut when the man slipped and broke his ankle.
The alarm was raised shortly before 2 pm and HM Coastguard rescue teams from Arbroath and Montrose were mobilised to attend.
A search and rescue helicopter from RAF Lossiemouth was also scrambled and the injured man was treated at the scene by the winchman before being taken on board and flown to Ninewells Hospital in Dundee. |
