Police talk down man from cliff days after four bodies found

A man was talked down from a cliff by police in the same town where four people have died in recent days. The man, aged in his 30s, was talked down yesterday (Sunday, August 3) and is now receiving the care he needs.

It comes after the deaths of four people in just three days in Whitby. The bodies were found at the bottom of cliffs along the rugged coastline of the Yorkshire town. A search was also launched for a missing swimmer before being called off a day later.

As reported by Yorkshire Live, North Yorkshire Police said: "Police received a concern for safety report for a man aged in 30s on the East Cliff of Whitby at 3.46pm on Sunday (3 August 2025).

"Security staff initially talked to the man and then police officers attended the scene along with paramedics, the fire service, and the coastguard as a precaution.

"At 6.55pm, the man was detained for his own safety and is now receiving the care that he needs."

A man and a woman, both aged in their 40s, were found at the bottom of the cliffs are falling to their deaths on Wednesday, July 30. The body of a woman, aged in her 60s, was also found at the bottom of the cliffs near the Pavillion on the following day.

Just yesterday (Sunday, August 3), the body of a woman, said to be in her 50s, was found a little further along the coast. Her injuries were consistent with falling from the top of the cliff edge.

A 42-year-old man, from Leeds, was swept away at Thornwick Bay last Wednesday (July 30). A huge search was launched before being called off the following day.

The local area has been left shocked and grieving by the latest incidents. One resident said: "It's not rare but this amount in a short space of time is so sad. More needs to be done. I wasn't at work yesterday but had heard about it on the radio."

Anara Graham, 56, from Whitby, added: "It's tragic. Suicide is a word we hear very commonly now, despite all the help that is available. Let's hope there are no more from these locations.

"Maybe trained volunteers like the coastguards could sit at the top of the cliffs just to change people's minds might be a good idea."

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