Woman in her 60s found dead by bottom of cliff at seaside beauty spot – hours after pair died nearby
Her body was found below cliffs at Whitby Abbey in North Yorks., yesterday - hours after a couple allegedly leapt to their deaths in the same area.
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The woman's body was discovered by a member of the public at around midday.
Police, ambulance, coastguard, mountain rescue and lifeboat teams were scrambled to the scene.
The death is believed to have involved a fall from the cliff.
Due to the location, rescue crews were called in to assist with recovery of the woman's body, which was taken to the lifeboat house.
A spokesperson for the force said: "We are investigating the sudden death of a woman aged in her 60s whose body was spotted by a member of the public below Whitby Abbey at 12.53pm yesterday.
"Police, ambulance, coastguard, mountain rescue and lifeboat teams were called into assist with the incident, which is believed to have involved a fall from the cliff.
"Due to the rocky location and high tide, mountain rescue assisted in recovering the woman's body to the lifeboat before being taken to the lifeboat house.
"Enquiries are ongoing to investigate the circumstances for a coroner's report.
"The sudden death is not believed to be suspicious. The woman's family have been informed and are receiving support.
"Witnesses to the incident or anyone with information that could assist officers, are urged to call North Yorkshire Police on 101 quoting reference number 12250142097."
Police enquiries are ongoing to investigate the circumstances for a coroner's report.
The day before, a couple chatted to fellow walkers before allegedly leaping to their deaths hand-in-hand from the same cliffs.
Terrifying moment cliff collapses yards away from sunbathers in UK hotspot
Their bodies were recovered from the rocks below the drop on Wednesday evening following the apparent suicide pact.
Police are not linking this latest death to the alleged double suicide, which North Yorkshire Police continue to investigate.
Brian Vickers, 63, who was attending a nearby steam rally, said: 'I saw the helicopter hovering and came down to see what was going on.
'I was told from somebody who has been walking along the path that he had come across them shortly before and they did not appear to be in distress.
'It was as if they were just going for a walk, there was nothing strange about it.
'About a dozen people witnessed it. They turned to face the sea and held hands and jumped."
A member of the public alerted the police at 7.16pm on Wednesday after spotting a man and woman on the rocks below.
With the tide coming in fast, the coastguard coordinated a helicopter recovery to ambulance crews at near Whitby Abbey.
Paramedics confirmed the deaths at the scene, with the bodies taken to a nearby hospital by ambulance.
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