COASTGUARD have pleaded with visitors to keep away from crumbling cliff edges.

The warning came after a reckless man was pictured dicing with death at Birling Gap earlier this week, edging along the precipice to pose for a photo.

He was not the only person to come within centimetres of the 400ft drop.

A young girl who was peering over the edge on Sunday was yanked back to safety , by a woman.

The Argus:

The following day, another woman standing on the cliff top threw her arms aloft as she posed on the precipice, apparently for a picture.

She was later seen receiving cautionary words from Coastguard crews patrolling in the area.

The service has now released an updated warning targeting visitors to the cliffs, warning the rocks are fragile and collapse at any moment.

A Birling Gap Coastguard spokeswoman said: “We really can’t stress enough how important it is to keep back from cliff edges.

The Argus:

“There is no ’safe’ place to be and the cliffs along the UK coastline are continuously eroding.

“Use the designated paths, take notice of any warning signs, be responsible and don’t take any unnecessary risks.

“It’s more important than ever to take extra care in these extraordinary times.

“Coronavirus hasn’t gone away and your choices might put our frontline responders at risk.

“As always, if you see anyone in trouble, call 999 and ask for the Coastguard.”

The Argus:

This warning was reinforced by the South Downs National Park authority which posted the picture above on social media to ward followers off dangerous behaviour at its beauty spots.

A spokesman said: “We cannot stress this enough; stay away from the cliffs.

“Everyone in this shot is putting themselves, their family and emergency services at huge risk.

“If you do happen to find yourself on the Sussex coast this week, keep away from the cliffs.

The Argus:

“They are very, very old and very, very brittle.

“Stick to the footpath, keep your distance and keep staying safe.”

In 2017, Korean student Hyewon Kim fell 200ft to her death as she had her picture taken at the top of the cliffs.

But she lost her balance and stumbled backwards, falling off the cliff.

She had asked fellow tourists to take a photograph of her on the crumbling cliff’s edge and jumped to pose for the camera.

The Argus:

Birling Gap was quiet for the first weeks of the UK lockdown as car parks were closed to discourage visitors at the National Trust site.

But, with the loosening of lockdown measures on May 13 allowing people to drive to public spaces for recreation, the beauty spot has had an influx of visitors.

Eastbourne resident Jacqui Ridler said she had “never seen that many in the area”.