Images of Cape Kidnappers rock fall emerge

Thursday, 24 January 2019

Dramatic new photos of the rockfall at Cape Kidnappers have come to light.

The series of photographs has been supplied by Gannet Safaris Overland, which travels to the cape on a track above the cliffs. One of their passengers captured the images.

Two other people walking along the beach were injured when the rockfall occurred. 

They were flown by rescue helicopter to Hawke's Bay Hospital.

**READ MORE:

* Two hurt, one critically in dramatic seaside landslide near Clifton, Hawke's Bay

* Children rescued after being washed out to sea

* Rescue device saving time and lives at sea

* Stranded fisher helped to safety by searchers**

A woman aged in her 20s remains in a critical condition. A man, also in his 20s, is in a stable condition.

The tour group had coincidentally stopped to take photographs of the beach just seconds before the rock fall occurred at 2.30pm.

The first image shows the debris of a rockfall that occurred the previous day.

The tractor and trailer of the Gannet Beach Adventures can be seen on the Clifton side of the rockfall. 

The guide had stopped at that point and guided his 47 passengers over the rockfall. They were walking between the rockfall and the cape, and were a long way away when it occurred.

A Hastings District Council spokeswoman said beach access from Clifton to Cape Kidnappers remained closed to vehicles and pedestrians until further notice and the public were 'strongly advised to keep away from this area until further notice'.

'Agencies are urgently coordinating geotech expertise from around NZ who can access the area in order to inform next steps. This is expected to begin late this afternoon,' she said.

'Until this geotech assessment has been completed the beach access to Cape Kidnappers will remain closed'.

The images were supplied Gannet Safaris Overland.

The overland trips have not been disrupted by the fall and are still running.