Tragedy at Whitby: Elderly Couple Named After Fatal Cliff Fall
David and Susan Jeffcock Confirmed Dead
Police have named the elderly couple who died after plunging from cliffs near Whitby Abbey. David Jeffcock, 80, and his wife Susan Jeffcock, 74, both from North Yorkshire, died on the evening of Wednesday, July 30. Witnesses say the pair were seen holding hands before they jumped together from the cliff edge.
Emergency services rushed to the scene around 8pm, including police, ambulances, mountain rescue teams, and a coastguard helicopter. One camper nearby described the horrifying moment:
“The path was busy with walkers and dog walkers. Another couple was coming the other way, and the next thing we know they jumped. They fell straight onto the rocks below. The poor souls did not stand a chance.”
A Deadly Week Along Whitby’s Cliffs
The Jeffcocks were the first in a grim series of cliff deaths along the Whitby coastline in just five days:
- On July 31, a woman in her 60s was found dead at the base of cliffs near the Pavilion.
- On August 2, another woman, believed to be in her 50s, was discovered dead at Sandsend near the main car park. Police confirmed her injuries were consistent with a cliff fall.
The identities of these two women have not yet been released.
Inquest Scheduled for September
An inquest into David and Susan Jeffcock’s deaths will open on Monday, September 22, at Northallerton Coroner’s Court. North Yorkshire Police say the incidents are not being treated as suspicious but warn visitors to stay cautious around the dangerous, rugged coastline.
