COASTGUARD NEWS - SOUTHERN                  

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Southern 129/01
3 August 2001

CORNISH COASTGUARDS BUSY WITH CLIFF INCIDENTS

Coastguards in Cornwall have had a busy week of cliff incidents.

The body of a 16-year-old holidaymaker was found at the bottom of a 160ft water-filled abyss near Padstow yesterday morning 2 August 2001.

The dead boy was spotted by a cliff walker at the base of the blowhole, which is just south of Trevose Head, near Padstow, North Cornwall.

The passer-by alerted a local farmer at 10am who contacted St Merryn coastguard, and a Sea King helicopter was sent to recover the body.

The discovery was the latest in a series of cliff-related incidents on North Cornwall coastline, said St Merryn coastguard's Jenny Hore.

"This last week we have had five jobs in five days running.

"She said cliff walkers should be vigilant. They have got to be aware of the dangers. They should be extra careful and look exactly where they are walking on."

Mrs. Hore also said the number of cliff edge incidents was not unusual for this time of year.

Devon and Cornwall Police spokesman John Wood said: "It appears he had gone for a late night walk and fallen in. We are investigating, but there do not seem to be any suspicious circumstances.