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Shocking moment girl pulled from edge of cliff notorious for deadly falls

The heart-stopping moment a young girl leans dangerously close to the edge of a cliff only to be pulled back before tragedy strikes has been captured in a series of shocking photos.

The images were taken on Monday (local time) at Birling Gap, near Eastbourne in the UK, a spot known for deadly falls and crumbling rocks.

The BBC reports there are about 20 deaths at the site every year and in 2010 it was rated the third most common spot for suicides, according to The Wall Street Journal.

In the photos the young girl can be seen just inches away from the 120-metre cliff’s edge, with her hair blowing in the strong wind at a spot known for its chalky edges and fierce gales.

A young girl is held back as she peers over the edge of cliffs at Birling Gap.
The images were taken on Monday at Birling Gap, near Eastbourne in the UK, a spot known for deadly falls and crumbling rocks. Source: Getty

A woman spots the potential danger and pulls the girl back, struggling to stand upright in the strong wind.

The group walk then away after the close call.

The images prompted a warning on Twitter from the local council.

“Is it really worth risking your life?” the tweet said.

A woman spots the potential danger and pulls the girl back from the edge near Birling Gap, Eastbourne.
A woman spots the potential danger and pulls the girl back, struggling to stand upright in the strong wind. Source: Getty

People flock to beaches amid the 'heatwave'

As temperatures reached around 26 degrees in southeast England on the long weekend, Brits ignored social distancing rules and packed beaches, parks and lakes with picnic blankets and umbrellas, desperate to soak up some sunshine.

Images captured over the weekend show massive crowds of people, including large groups, soaking up the warmer weather across the country, notably in Brighton, Bournemouth, Ruislip Lido and Southend.

People enjoy the sunshine on the beach near Bournemouth Pier in Bournemouth, southern England. Source: AFP via Getty Images
People enjoy the sunshine on the beach near Bournemouth Pier in Bournemouth, southern England. Source: AFP via Getty Images

It only took until 12pm Monday for Bournemouth Council to declare all its seafront car parks were full and told residents to "think twice" before visiting the beach.

Cars could be seen parked for miles as people desperate to celebrate relaxing lockdown measures headed out.

Some have dubbed Monday’s packed beaches as the "Cummings effect", as Boris Johnson's senior adviser Dominic Cummings is embroiled in a row for travelling 400 kms from London to Durham during the lockdown.

 Birling Gap car park is overflowing Eastbourne, England. Parts of the country were expected to reach 29 degrees celsius, luring sunbathers and testing the capacity of parks and beaches to accommodate social distanced crowds. (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)
Birling Gap car park is overflowing in Eastbourne, England. Parts of the country were expected to reach 29 degrees celsius, luring sunbathers and testing the capacity of beaches to accommodate social distanced crowds. Source: Getty

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