People stranded at Birling Gap after cliff fall

On Tuesday, 27 January 2026, HM Coastguard successfully rescued nine people and a dog who became stranded on the beach at Birling Gap, East Sussex.

The rescue operation involved the following details:

• The Incident: A significant cliff fall occurred around 14:30 GMT, damaging the access steps and trapping two families and their pet on the shoreline.
• The Rescue: Coastguard Rescue Teams from Birling Gap, Newhaven, and Eastbourne used rope rescue techniques to winch the group safely back up the cliff face. No injuries were reported.
• Contributing Factors: Experts from RNLI Eastbourne noted that recent severe weather from Storm Chandra had significantly weakened the chalk cliffs, leading to the collapse.
• Safety Closures: The National Trust has closed beach access at Birling Gap until further notice for safety assessments.
• Warnings: Visitors are being urged by the Wealden District Council to stay well away from cliff edges and bases, as further falls are highly likely due to the unstable conditions.