‘Brain-dead’ couple who pitched tent with child inches from 280ft cliff edge hit with fine
A “BRAIN-DEAD” couple who pitched a tent inches from the edge of a 280ft cliff have been hit with a fine for breaching coronavirus lockdown rules.
The pair were found with a child in the dangerous spot above the North Yorkshire coast.
Police said a 27-year-old woman, from Doncaster, and a 30-year-old man, from Middlesbrough, had travelled to North Yorkshire to go camping along the Cleveland Way trail in Staithes.
They both received fixed penalty notices for breaching “stay at home” lockdown restrictions.
Stomach-churning photos show the tent just metres away from the edge of the cliff.
The Coastguard were scrambled on Saturday to move the family away from the area.
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Officers said choosing to camp at the site at Port Mulgrave had put all three lives at risk.
North Yorkshire Police also attended to lecture the parents about breaking Covid lockdown restrictions and said it was “completely irresponsible” to pitch the tent so close to the cliffside.
A North Yorkshire Police spokesperson said: “To travel from Middlesbrough and Doncaster with the intention to camp overnight is obviously a clear breach of the regulations.
“Not only were the individuals involved risking their own safety and the safety of the child who was with them, if a landslide had occurred, they would also be risking the lives of the emergency services who would attend the resulting incident.”
DANGEROUS SPOT
The Staithes Coastguard said on Saturday: “Today’s call was to attend a section of the Cleveland Way to issue safety advice to two adults and a child camping on the cliff edge.
“An Officer from North Yorkshire Police also attended due to breach of coronavirus restrictions.
“Safety advice was given from Coastguard Rescue Officers due to the dangerous location of their tent, especially with recent landslips.
“If you see anyone at risk or in danger at the coast, immediately call 999 and ask for the Coastguard.”
The couple have been slammed on social media for their dangerous holiday spot.
One person wrote: “Horrendous! The child must have been petrified camping so close to that edge. They need to be severely punished for this!”
Another said: “Not just being stupid for themselves & putting a child in danger but using up valuable time with the coastguard when they could be elsewhere.”
While one wrote: “Beggars belief! You can see where the ground has partially broken away ! Braindead”
It comes just weeks after a rescue volunteer was left paralysed from his neck down when he suffered horrific injuries while trying to help two Covidiots.
Chris Lewis, 60, and other volunteers had been called out when two wild campers got into trouble in the Lake District.
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The pair had travelled hundreds of miles in breach of lockdown restrictions and then called 999 in the middle of the night when one suffered chest pains.
Chris and his colleagues from Patterdale Mountain Rescue headed to help the men but he fell 500ft down a ravine near Kirkstone Pass.
He was rushed to hospital with multiple facial fractures and damage to his spinal cord.
