Woman fell at cliff at Durdle Door in 'ill-judged accident' to 'bypass steps'

Police say the woman in her 40s was from the West Midlands area and are not treating her death as suspicious.

The woman has been named by friends and family as mother-of-five Tahira Jabeen, from Birmingham, with moving tributes describing her as a “wonderful lady with a heart of gold”.

Witnesses have described the woman losing her footing on rocks and falling down a cliff at Man O’War beach on Monday, June 14.

A crowd had gathered on the beach and on the cliff and urged her to remain where she was as emergency services were on their way, according to witness accounts.

Emergency services, including police officers, ambulance crews and firefighters, were called in response to a ‘person falling from height’ at Man O’War beach at 3.07pm.

A woman in her 40s fell to her death after slipping and falling from a cliff at Man O'War beach at Durdle Door, Dorset.

The woman in her 40s, who has not been formally identified, was pronounced dead at the scene. Her daughter was also with her, but was treated for shock by ambulance crews.

A man from Bournemouth, who asked not to be named, recalled how the woman reportedly tried to take a shortcut down the hill of the cliffs.

"The lady at the top of the cliff stood next to her said she wanted to skip the steps and try to get down there quickly.

"There were over 100 people there on the beach and some were calling the police and emergency services. People watching her were trying to tell her to stay still on the rocks but I don't think she understood or heard.

"She attempted to climb over a rock and then go onto another but she slipped down the hill, hit her head on the hill and fell to the floor.

"It was a shocking thing to see, that. I hope her family is OK."

Emergency services raced to Man O'War beach at Durdle Door, Dorset on Monday, June 14

A witness, who was on holiday at the time, described it as an ‘ill-judged accident’.

He said: “She somehow got about midway down the rock face where she was able to stay if she pleased.

“Hundreds of people on the beach and those above her were telling her to stay there but unfortunately she attempted to manoeuvre on her bottom down the rocks, shortly before she made her last manoeuvre she said “I’ll just have a look”.

“It was definitely an ill-judged accident.”

Another witness shared an account of what happened online and expressed her condolences to her family.

She said: “She was climbing down the cliff thinking she could get to the beach. Everyone was telling her to stop and there was nothing anyone could do.

“It was extremely saddening to witness. My condolences go out to her family.”

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Many people online have shared tributes to the woman, with one expressing her ‘sincere and heartfelt condolences to her family and friends’ and another shared how ‘seeing this happen makes you realise how precious life is’.

Dorset Police say officers are now investigating the circumstances of this death and are carrying out enquires to understand what has happened. They say the death is not being treated as suspicious.

A spokeswoman for Dorset Police said: “At 3.07pm on Monday, June 14, Dorset Police received a report that a woman aged in her 40s from the West Midlands area had fallen from a cliff at Durdle Door near Lulworth.

“Officers attended together with other emergency services colleagues.

“Sadly, the woman was pronounced dead at the scene.

“Officers are supporting her next of kin and will be conducting enquiries following this tragic incident on behalf of HM Coroner.

“There were no suspicious circumstances.”

Man O' War beach at West Lulworth by Echo Camera Club Dorset member Marc Bailey

HM Coastguard said it coordinated the response following multiple 999 calls to the incident.

A spokesman said: “Lulworth and Kimmeridge Coastguard Rescue Teams, along with HM Coastguard’s helicopter from Lee-on-Solent were sent along with South Western Ambulance and Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service and Dorset Police.”

A spokeswoman for Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service confirmed that fire crews from Bere Regis, Dorchester and Weymouth were at the scene to support emergency services.

She said: “We were called at 3.14pm after reports that someone had fallen from height at Man O’War beach.

“We have crews from Bere Regis and Dorchester in attendance, along with a technical rescue team from Weymouth.”