A girl of nine who died in a rockfall was struck by a single small stone in what has been described as a “one-in-a-million freak accident” .
The youngster was walking through rock pools with her mother when she was hit on the head. The distraught mum cradled her injured daughter, while onlookers ran for help.
The mum, who is in her 30s, and the girl had left the beach and climbed steps leading on to rocks at Seaton Garth beach in Staithes, North Yorks. The child was struck 30ft away from the steps.
An off-duty paramedic is said to have been first to arrive and worked on the girl for an hour but she died at the scene.
Staithes harbour master and local councillor Norman Fowler, 71, also rushed to their aid after being alerted by a witness around 4.30pm on Wednesday.
Yesterday he said: “She was walking on the rocks with her mum and a stone hit her on the head. It was a freak accident. It was a one-in-a-million chance.”
The coastguard, police and a local doctor also attended the scene.
It is believed the pair were visiting the village on a day trip and are from the South of England. The mum and her family are being comforted by specialist officers from North Yorkshire Police.
Mr Fowler, 71, called the emergency services and sat with the girl’s mum, who suffered scratches. He said: “I saw the lady cradling her in her arms.
“I sat with the mum. She was incoherent, crying. She was shaking and in shock.
“The cliffs just crumble occasionally. It wasn’t a landslide. It was just one piece of stone.
“It only has to be the size of a fist when it’s falling from that high on the cliff.”
Mr Fowler insisted that there are enough warning signs in the area about the dangers of rockfalls and said that the beach will reopen when police finish investigating.
The British Geological Survey is warning about a rise in the number of rockfalls due to the recent heatwave.
Dr Helen Reeves, of the BGS, said: “The unprecedented warm, dry weather is likely to be a contributing factor. Take notice of warning signs. Do not go directly under or on top of cliffs.”
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