Vain bid to 'dig out' cliff woman

Ms Palser was walking behind Mr Stanley when the cliff collapsed

The partner of a woman killed when a cliff face in West Cumbria crumbled burying her under tonnes of rock has told how he tried to rescue her.

Malcolm Stanley, 60, tried to help Caroline Palser, 50, of Frizington, by digging her out with his bare hands.

The accident happened at South Beach, Whitehaven, while the couple watched rough waves on New Year's Day.

Copeland Council said it is reviewing the fences put up when parts of the cliff collapsed in December.

Fences and erosion warning signs were erected last month after a five-metre stretch of the cliff fell off into the sea.

Ms Palser had been walking some 20 yards (18m) behind Mr Stanley, close to the cliff edge, when it suddenly gave way and collapsed, covering her in debris.

The crumbling cliff face near where the accident happened

Mr Stanley said: "It was just terrible luck. If we had been five minutes earlier or five minutes later, this would never have happened.

"I suppose we both knew it was a bit of a dangerous place. It had collapsed before.

"I never even heard the rock fall. She was absolutely covered in rock. I would say there was probably about five tonnes of rubble.

"I ran over and tried to dig her out. I was using my hands and trying to move as much of the rocks as fast as possible, but there was just so much of it."

Health and safety officials will inspect the area on Tuesday and enforcement officers will be on site to keep people away from the cliff edge.

Adverse weather

Council chief executive Liam Murphy, said: "We will look to see if we need additional fencing put up.

"In situations like this it is not possible to fence off the whole area. We fenced off all along the edge which was at risk and we fenced off access through the public footpath.

"That was the right action to take at the time."

Ms Palser had been watching rough waves during a New Year's walk with her partner at the time of her death, police said.

A spokesman for Cumbria Fire and Rescue Service said it was believed heavy winds and rainfall had probably weakened the cliff face.

"We understand she was walking long the shore and part of the cliff face, about 20ft (6m) high, gave way and buried her.

"We assisted to make the area safe and to get the lady out, but she was pronounced dead."