The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Climbers claim bottles thrown before cliff fall
Investigation into reports of yobs lobbing objects from above
Louts lobbing glass bottles prompted climbers to abandon a Fife cliff just hours before a man fell to his death.
The body of a 26-year-old was pulled from the Forth on Tuesday evening following the tragedy at Hawkcraig Point in Aberdour.
In the hours preceding the tragedy, several climbers had reported yobs throwing glass bottles from the top of the rock face, prompting many to abort their ascents.
While police say that there is no evidence to link the anti-social behaviour to the fatality, local councillor David Barratt has demanded the findings of any investigation be made public to protect the safety of those who climb at the popular crag, adding: “I hope we get some detail so that lessons can be learned from this incident.”
Climbers abandoned a Fife cliff for fear of being hit by bottles just hours before a man fell to his death.
The body of the 26-year-old was retrieved from the Forth on Tuesday evening after he fell from the rock face at Aberdour’s Hawkcraig Point.
Several climbers had abandoned their efforts to climb the crag earlier that evening, claiming bottles had been thrown from above, jeopardising their safety.
While police say they have no evidence to suggest projectiles were being thrown at the time of Tuesday’s fatality, local councillor David Barrett, himself a climber, said a full report should be made public to allow any safety concerns at the site to be addressed.
“It is very sad to hear of any death,” he said.
“I hope we get some detail so lessons can be learned from this incident.
“There could be issues with the stability of the rock, equipment failure or climber error.
“A lot of useful information can come out from a report but this is a very sad incident and my condolences go out to the climber’s family.”
Police remained at the visitor spot yesterday morning, with several uniformed officers spotted searching bushes at the top of the cliff.
The area had been sealed off on Tuesday at around 6.45pm, with police, fire, lifeboat and coastguard crews all scrambled after news of the climber’s fall first emerged.
His identity is yet to be revealed by police, though he is not understood to have been from the area.
Prior to the incident, climbers had reported on an online forum Hawkcraig was “raining bottles”, with thousands having flocked to the area to make the most of the sunshine.
Confirming an investigation had been launched into the tragedy, a spokesperson for Police Scotland said: “Police in Fife were called to the Hawkcraig area of Silver Sands Beach in Aberdour around 6.45pm on Tuesday July 18 following a report a climber had fallen from the cliffs.
“Kinghorn RNLI recovered the man from the shoreline and the 26-year-old was sadly pronounced dead by the Scottish Ambulance Service.
“His family have now been informed and our thoughts are with his loved ones at this difficult time.
“Inquiries are ongoing and a report will be submitted to the procurator fiscal.”
There could be issues with the stability of the rock or climber error