miércoles, 25 de julio de 2012

Woman trapped in 400 TONNE cliff collapse horror - The Sun

THE family of the tragic holidaymaker who died after a 150ft cliff collapsed, burying her under 400 tons of rock, have paid tribute to the "lively, fun-loving" young woman.

Charlotte Blackman, 22, was strolling on a beach with her boyfriend and her dad when the massive landslide happened.

Tributes flooded in after the young woman from Heanor, Derbs, was confirmed dead at the end of a frantic nine-hour search.

Her uncle, Douglas Blackman, said: "I don't have many words at the moment, to be honest. I found out last night at about 11pm.

"She was on holiday with her whole family, her mum Rachel, dad Kevin, sister Sinead, little brother Mitchell, and boyfriend Matt.

"My brother and her boyfriend and her little brother were there when it happened. I understand the boyfriend got her little brother away into the sea to get him from it.

"She was a lively, fun-loving woman, who had her whole life in front of her."

Mr Blackman posted a heart-breaking message on Facebook yesterday: "About a week ago, a friend said there are a few days which change each of our lives forever.

"I am so sorry to say this is one such, and the only thing I can think to do is to ask anyone who knows me to pray with all your might for my niece Charlotte who is god willing fighting for every breath of air in Dorset tonight.

"If I have ever done anything to help any of you I am calling in that favour.

"Just pray as hard as you can, that they will get her out alive. Just do this please."

The falls at around 12.30pm left a mound of rubble 35ft high by 70ft wide at Burton Bradstock, Dorset.

It was too risky to immediately dig for the victim but sniffer dogs were used locate her. Recent rain left the cliff unstable and officials warned people to keep away.

EMERGENCY services rushed to beach near Dorset holiday park after cliff crashed down

This morning he updated the status to add: "Am so very very sad, we lost Charlotte yesterday.

"We will always remember her.

"My thoughts are with my brother and his family in their darkest hour. Thank you to all answered my request."

Rachel Saunderson, the wife of Charlotte's step-uncle, wrote: "Thinking of my husband's step niece who is trapped under 400 tons of rock and mud in Dorset as a result of a landslide.

"Praying for Charlotte Blackman to come out safely from the landslide. If there is such a thing as a god please be with her now. Xx"

One witness said the two men narrowly escaped being buried by a SECOND rockfall minutes later as they frantically clawed at boulders and debris covering the woman.

Gary Rafferty, 36, was on the cliff-top yesterday when he heard a rumble and dashed down to the beach.

He said: "I helped a man aged in his 50s out of the debris. I saw his son who had also been trapped.

"I said to him, 'Are you alright?' and he said 'No, my girlfriend's trapped under there'. He was quite hysterical.

"Then the lifeboat came and took him and his father off the beach. It must have been very difficult to leave the woman trapped under the rocks.

"They said they had just been walking along the beach and they didn't hear anything.

"Then all of a sudden there was this huge landslide which fell down on them."

The beach close to the Freshwater Beach Holiday Park had been filled with day trippers enjoying yesterday's sunny weather.

The Jurassic Coast cliffs had become severely unstable after heavy rain followed by dry and sunny conditions, leading them to crack and crumble.

Two weeks ago a couple in a car were killed by a landslip near Beaminster, Dorset.

j.coles@the-sun.co.uk

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