An '"idiot" who appeared to turn her back and text, while two young children clambered down rocks towards a notoriously dangerous blowhole, has been slammed. Jo Harley said she watched in dread as the children edged towards the 80ft hole.
The adult appeared to be oblivious to the potential jeopardy they were in, according to Jo. The children were aged no more than seven years old, reports Cornwall Live.
She said in a post on Facebook: "We've seen it all this holiday. This however, takes the absolute prize. Appears to be a mother with her (clearly key stage one) children allowing them to go down into the hole while she's stood there with her back to them on her phone."
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The incident happened on Friday (June 2) as Jo, her husband and 16-year-old daughter walked along the cliff path at Trevose Head, near Padstow. People are advised to stay away from the Round Hole which is very close to the cliff edge and is not fenced off.
Accidents have happened there before - including a tragic death in 2021 - and there have been debates over the years about whether it should be made safer or not.
Jo, a regular visitor to the area over many years, said: "We just saw the woman on her phone messaging while the two children were standing on the edge. We said to ourselves how dangerous it looked. They were edging their way down while she turned her back on them.
"I couldn't stand there and watch but when we turned around she was still ignoring them and they were going further and further down. My daughter shouted back to her to please look after her children but she didn't respond.
"The children didn't know how dangerous it was but a grown adult should have. I don't know quite where her head was. I don't know if she was a parent or guardian or nanny but any sensible adult would look at a hole and see how dangerous it was and not go anywhere near the edge of it.
"I just wish people would use their common sense. If people see a big hole in the ground don't go near it."
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