Latest news with #WhitbyAbbey
The Sun
01-08-2025
- The Sun
Woman in her 60s found dead by bottom of cliff at seaside beauty spot – hours after pair died nearby
COPS have launched an investigation into the sudden death of a woman in her 60s at a popular seaside beauty spot. 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. 2 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. 2 is your go-to destination for the best celebrity news, real-life stories, jaw-dropping pictures and must-see video. Like us on Facebook at and follow us from our main Twitter account at @TheSun.
Telegraph
31-07-2025
- Telegraph
Elderly couple ‘jumped to deaths hand-in-hand' from cliff beneath Whitby Abbey
An elderly couple jumped to their deaths hand-in-hand from a cliff beneath Whitby Abbey in North Yorkshire, witnesses have said. The man and woman, who have not been named, are thought to have taken their own lives in the seaside town on Wednesday evening. Their bodies were found on rocks 180ft beneath the ruined Gothic abbey, which inspired Bram Stoker's Dracula. Brian Vickers, 63, said the couple had smiled at passers-by before leaping to their deaths. 'I saw the helicopter hovering and came down to see what was going on,' he said. '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. 'One witness said 'they smiled at me and I smiled back'. It was as if they were just going for a walk, there was nothing strange about it. He said that they turned to face the sea and held hands and jumped. About a dozen people witnessed it.' As the tide came in, the couple were airlifted by a Coastguard helicopter to waiting paramedics, who pronounced them dead at 8.24pm. The circumstances of their death are not suspicious, police sources said. 'It is dreadfully sad' A security guard at a vintage steam engine rally being held at the abbey ruins said: 'The place was full of police and emergency vehicles trying to recover the bodies. They had to be winched up by the Coastguard helicopter one at a time because the tide was fast coming in. It's heartbreaking.' A rally attendee added: 'People were saying that the couple had been saying 'hello' to walkers, as you do, and looked to be enjoying a nice evening walk before they jumped off. It is dreadfully sad. But it seems to have been a deliberate act, not an accident.' A North Yorkshire Police spokesman said: 'A member of the public called the police at 7.16pm 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 near Whitby Abbey. This was completed at 8.24pm. Paramedics confirmed the deaths, and the bodies have been taken to hospital by ambulance. 'Police are on with tracing the next of kin of the man and woman while the investigation continues into the circumstances of the sudden deaths for a coroner's report.' The RNLI said: 'Whitby RNLI volunteers launched their inshore lifeboat yesterday evening at 7.20pm to respond to an incident alongside other emergency services.'
Yahoo
31-07-2025
- Yahoo
Bodies of man and woman recovered from beneath cliff at Whitby Abbey
Two bodies have been recovered from beneath the cliff at Whitby Abbey, police have said. A member of the public called the police at around 7.15pm on Wednesday after spotting a man and a woman on the rocks below, North Yorkshire police said. The Coastguard coordinated a helicopter recovery to ambulance crews near Whitby Abbey which was completed at 8.24pm. Paramedics confirmed the deaths and the bodies have been taken to hospital by ambulance. An investigation into the circumstances of the deaths is under way while police seek to trace the man and woman's next of kin. Witnesses to the incident or anyone with information that could assist officers are urged to call North Yorkshire Police on 101 quoting reference number 12250141734.
Sky News
31-07-2025
- Sky News
Bodies of man and woman recovered from beneath cliff at Whitby Abbey
Two bodies have been recovered from beneath the cliff at Whitby Abbey, police have said. A member of the public called the police at around 7.15pm on Wednesday after spotting a man and a woman on the rocks below, North Yorkshire police said. The Coastguard coordinated a helicopter recovery to ambulance crews near Whitby Abbey which was completed at 8.24pm. Paramedics confirmed the deaths and the bodies have been taken to hospital by ambulance. An investigation into the circumstances of the deaths is under way while police seek to trace the man and woman's next of kin. Witnesses to the incident or anyone with information that could assist officers are urged to call North Yorkshire Police on 101 quoting reference number 12250141734.
The Independent
31-07-2025
- The Independent
Two bodies discovered below cliffs at tourist spot
The bodies of a man and a woman were discovered on rocks below cliffs at Whitby Abbey in North Yorkshire. A member of the public reported the discovery to North Yorkshire Police at 7:16 PM on Wednesday evening. Emergency services, including the Coastguard and a helicopter, recovered the bodies by 8:24 PM due to the incoming tide. Paramedics confirmed the deaths at the scene, and the bodies were subsequently taken to hospital by ambulance. Police are currently working to trace the next of kin and are investigating the circumstances of the deaths for a coroner's report. Bodies of man and woman found on rocks below cliffs at seaside beauty spot
