Fourth dead body found on beauty spot beach in three days as police investigate

The discovery of a woman's body at the bottom of cliffs close to Whitby is the fourth in the area in three days, police have said.

North Yorkshire Police's coastal team said the woman's body was found at Sandsend, near Whitby, below the cliffs behind the main carpark. The force added that the woman was aged and in her 50s and from the local area. She was spotted at 11.01am by a passerby who called emergency services. Her death comes after a man and a woman, both understood to be in their 40s, died after falling from the cliffs at Whitby on July 30, as well as another woman, aged in her 60s, who was found by the cliffs near the pavillion on July 31. Officers said they were proceeding on the understanding that her death had also resulted from "a fall from the cliff" at the popular seaside beauty spot.

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Police have now launched an investigation into the latest death but say it is not being treated as suspicious. The four separate tragedies are not linked in any way, the force added. It comes after a dead body was found in an 'underground ancient cave' in a popular UK beauty spot.

In a statement relating to the latest incident, a spokesperson for North Yorkshire Police said: "Teams from the police, ambulance, coastguard, lifeboat and fire service attended. The woman’s body was recovered at 12.55pm and the scene was reopened at 2.15pm following extensive enquiries.

"It has been confirmed that the woman is aged in her 50s and from the local area. Officers are supporting the woman’s family at this difficult time. The death is not being treated as suspicious and a report is being prepared for the coroner."

The service has called for potential witnesses to come forward, adding in a past official statement that people with pertinent information should call the police non-emergency number 101. Those with information should call the line, quoting reference number 12250143585.