Guest 640- Registered: 21 Apr 2007
- Posts: 7,819
#1
After the visit to the guys in the wartime cave we carried on up to Capel for lunch...then afterwards while relaxing in the warm easter sunshine, the tranquility of the afternoon was shattered by screaming sirens and throbbing helicopters. First as you would expect, the police, then the Fire Brigade, then HM Coastguard then the Kent Air Ambulance. The area suddenly became swamped with emergency services. It is always reassuring to know so many of them exist when the chips are down. But what was causing all the fuss..was it another crash on the A20. No , the story soon emerged.
Some unfortunate visitor to Capel had slipped on the grass and fell over but in a very dangerous place, where just below the soft grassy edges there is a sheer drop...and as I understand it the chap was killed. It can be very deceptive at Capel. Where in Dover you can clearly know there is a heck of a drop over the White Cliffs, in Capel its much more hidden and can as a consequence take you by surprise. As the weather was exceptionally good, and as it was also Easter, there were very many people on 'walks'.
The navy and white helicopter of the Kent Air Ambulance hovered overhead for an age unable to get near the victim. It eventually landed on top of the cliffs, winches were put in place in an effort to reach the victim and a female PCSO urged us all to stand well back from the edge as " we dont want another victim". In no time at all there were perhaps hundreds of people watching. It was a warm day.
There were a large amount of personnel from the services of all sorts, police , fire crews, coastguards and so on, and all responding with encouraging know how. But a 'death in the afternoon' on such a lovely day in such a harmless way is such a shock.
#2
A sad event indeed. I don't get to Capel very often - are there fences or warnings in place? I don't recall seeing many fences or barriers on the odd occasions when I have been there - I remember thinking it would be especially dangerous for unaccompanied children.
Guest 640- Registered: 21 Apr 2007
- Posts: 7,819
#3
Bern I think I am accurate in saying that there are no warnings and most defintely no fences, as they would somewhat defeat the purpose. The place is very popular with walkers who walk from a base near Folkestone and head to Dover...some chap I met previously told me such. Im not a walker myself and have never done any such walk but its a route for enthusiasts as I understand it.
Brian Dixon
- Location: Dover
- Registered: 23 Sep 2008
- Posts: 23,940
#4
yes we at the cave weekend saw the fire brigade and coastgaurd rush past with sirens and lights going on that day,apparently there was another victim further down the coast [devon area] on the same day acording to the radio news this morning.
Guest 640- Registered: 21 Apr 2007
- Posts: 7,819
#5
Here are a couple of images from the scene..not terribly good but nevertheless might be worth showing
Sue Nicholas- Location: river
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 6,025
#6
My son and his girl friend were also in that area .There are no fences and anyone who walks near the edge is in danger .I gather a lot of people unwisely were peering over the edge to see what was going on .
Not in for a four mile stroll then Paul!
Guest 651- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 5,673
#7
Next there will be a campaign to fence all along the cliffs !! Sad news but if you walk along the top of any cliffs there is an element of danger.....
Been nice knowing you :)
Guest 640- Registered: 21 Apr 2007
- Posts: 7,819
#8
Although this was an unfortunate business I doubt if they would ever fence off the cliffs as it would be akin to some kind of sacrilege as Im sure you would agree Paul. I would personally hate it because there is nothing more obnoxious than a man made intrusion in a nature reserve. The fences would be poorly maintained over time and so on...ugh! I cant imagine anything worse.
Although more dangerous in Capel I would hazard a guess that there are more walkers there than on the WHite CLiffs themselves here in Dover. It seems to be very popular. I like the Cliff Top Cafe there myself...but to answer SUE...no I prefer sitting in the Clff Top Cafe catching the rays than legging it for four miles o'er hill and down dale !!lol
of course I should probably be doing the walking!
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
#9
according to the coast guard there are very many clear signs, instructing people to stick to clearly marked paths.
unfortunately some do not take much notice.
Guest 651- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 5,673
#10
"unfortunately some do not take much notice."
100% right there, you see 100s of pictures of people stood at Langdon cliffs right on the edge and more often than not they are not on solid chalk. I am surprised there are not more accidents !
Been nice knowing you :)
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
#11
i do not understand the stupidity.
anything natural has some level of danger.
from the docks you can see people standing right on the edge, just one gust of wind and that is it.
Brian Dixon- Location: Dover
- Registered: 23 Sep 2008
- Posts: 23,940
#12
howard,ditto stupidity is becomeing more common these days.
Guest 653- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,540
#13
And common-sense is becoming more rare !
Roger
Guest 641- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 2,335
#14
Sad news of the unfortunate incident at Capel, was an accident or suicide? Common sense is a rare thing these days, let us hope that there isn't a campaign to build a fences all along the coast, it would ruin the view and the landscape.
Guest 640- Registered: 21 Apr 2007
- Posts: 7,819
#15
It was an accident as I understand it. He was a visitor and a walker so just an unfortunate accident by all accounts. Some report said he was a Russian, earlier reports said he was Polish but I think the Polish chap died in the West Country. I reckon summing things up he would be unlikely to visit all the way from Moscow or whathaveyou in order to jump. But of course no doubt an inquest will get to the bottom of it.
Guest 663- Registered: 20 Mar 2008
- Posts: 1,136
#16
Was sadden to hear that the walker had died as it was such a beautifully peacefull hour sitting on the cliff top in the sunshine.
Had only said a few minuites before hand then along came police, fire engine, and air ambulance must say they responded very quickly to the sitution.
Guest 643- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 1,321
#17
The man who died was Polish. Apparently he and a friend were taking photos and got too near the edge and slipped. He tried to grab at a clump of grass but of course it didn't hold him. What a sad story.
There's always a little truth behind every "Just kidding", a little emotion behind every "I don't care" and a little pain behind every "I'm ok".
Guest 641- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 2,335
#18
Thats very sad news indeed Jacqui.
Guest 651- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 5,673
#19
There was another at Langdon Cliffs the same day I think - not heard much about that....
Been nice knowing you :)
