Moment huge rockfall narrowly misses sunbathers as 'thousands of tons' of cliff stone crashes down onto beach
As the barrage of stones came raining down onto the ground, huge plumes of red dust billowed across the sea after the rockfall at Budleigh Salterton, Devon, on Saturday.
The terrifying crash cut off some beachgoers who were there at the time, and a lifeboat was launched to rescue them.
Eyewitness James Walters describes seeing 'thousands of tons' of rock come down.
He said: 'Police, lifeboat and coastguards were there. I don't think anybody was injured, but they had to close the coast path.'
A spokesperson from Sidmouth Lifeboat said: 'Sidmouth Independent Lifeboat was tasked by Solent Coastguard after a significant cliff collapse at Budleigh Beach.
'The crew's primary objective was to search for anyone caught in the fall zone and to support Beer and Exmouth Coastguard teams already on scene.
'Upon arrival, lifeboat crew members discovered several people stranded on the wrong side of the cliff fall.
'Two individuals were safely transferred back to Budleigh Beach.
'Thank you to all volunteers and agencies involved for their swift response and teamwork.
'Please remember: cliffs along this stretch of coastline are unstable. Keep a safe distance from the base and the edge, and follow all local safety warnings.'
Exmouth Coastguard Rescue team added: 'Following assessment earlier after the significant cliff fall, Devon County Council have closed sections of the coastal path.
'Please avoid the area and don't attempt to circumvent the closures.'
This comes almost a year after dramatic cliff fall just a few miles at Jacob's Ladder beach, in Sidmouth, also threw up a billowing cloud of dust, forcing terrified beachgoers to run into the sea to escape the landslip in August last year.
Families with young children had been sunbathing on the shoreline close by when the cliff collapsed, but thankfully no one was injured by the fall.
Warning signs had already been put up at prior to the terrifying incident.
Images of the collapse showed the moment people close to the impact were forced to scramble in a bid to get to safety.
Two people were seen running into the sea to avoid the catastrophe.
Eyewitness Hans-Petter Bjørnestad who was visiting from Copenhagen, Denmark said it made a noise like thunder.
'I heard two loud booms immediately after each other. It sounded like thunder or booming thuds. I was 200m to 300m or so away at Connaught Gardens.'
The Sidmouth Lifeboat was launched following the collapse to conduct a shoreline search near Salcombe Mouth in case anyone had been caught up into the incident and swept into the sea.
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