Whitby’s Coastguard team had to move several families from the bottom of the cliffs at Saltwick Bay for their own safety while they were treating a patient seriously injured in a first rockfall minutes earlier.
They are now warning people to be aware of the danger around cliffs and high tides following two rescues at Saltwick in two days.
Last Thursday, a young male suffered a “severe” leg injury following a rock fall at Saltwick while he was out with his family.
Coastguard Rescue Teams from Whitby and Ravenscar were called out to rescue the casualty – who had received crucial first aid and help from a passing member of the public – from the beach.
They were unable to take him back up the cliff by rope, or the steps by stretcher, as it would have caused “significant pain and distress”, so a sea rescue was deemed necessary and Whitby’s inshore lifeboat (ILB) drafted in.
Together the Coastguard teams and RNLI crew transferred the casualty onto the ILB and he was taken to the boathouse where ambulance crews were waiting to continue treatment, which had been started on the beach at Saltwick.
However, while the Coastguard dealt with the situation, there was a second rockfall in the same area, so they moved several families away from the base of the cliffs to a place of safety.
A Coastguard spokesperson said: “Rock falls can happen without warning, and what looks stable often isn’t, particularly after periods of wet weather, followed by dry spells, frost, or ongoing erosion.
“This incident resulted in a serious injury, but it could very easily have been much worse. Even a small fall or a single moving rock can quickly turn into something far more serious.”
On Friday, a member of the public called for help after becoming worried for a man who was trying to walk along the beach towards Saltwick Nab, with the tide quickly rising.
They were watching from the above cliff path and could see the walker was unlikely to make it safely and beat the high tide.
Whitby Coastguard were again called out and, between the caller and the operations room, they were able to locate and intercept the man – by this time struggling to get over large rocks and unstable cliff slope – trying to make his way back towards Whitby.
The ILB from Whitby RNLI was again called for and the Coastguard team managed to make contact with the walker near the East Pier and help him over the rock armour to safety.
A Coastguard spokesperson said other than being “wet and tired” he was uninjured.
In addition to these incidents there have been other rockfalls in the area.
The spokesperson added: “This is the same area where we’ve recently seen rock falls. It’s a beautiful bit of coastline, but it’s one where a few different factors can come together quite quickly – rising tides, limited exit points, and cliffs that can be less stable than they appear.
“Often, everything can feel manageable when you set off. But as the tide turns or conditions shift, those margins can narrow faster than expected.”
The Coastguard has issued a few simple safety tips to help prevent emergencies.
Check tide times before setting off and plan your way back – what looks like plenty time can often cover over in minutes.
Give cliffs more space than you think you need, particularly after wet or changeable weather.
If a route feels uncertain, turn back early.
If unsure or concerned, for yourself or someone else , call 999 and ask for the Coastguard.