Tributes to woman killed in landslide

Published on 26/07/2012 01:31

Family and friends of a landslide victim have paid tribute to a “genuine, warm and funny young woman”.

Charlotte Blackman died after being crushed as 400 tonnes of rock fell on her during a trip to a Dorset beach.

The 22-year-old, from Heanor, Derbyshire, was on holiday with her family and boyfriend when part of a 160ft-high cliff at Hive Beach, near Burton Bradstock, on the Jurassic Coast, collapsed and sent rocks plummeting onto the sand below.

Her body was found under piles of rubble following a nine-hour search operation.

Charlotte’s uncle, Douglas Blackman, said: “She was on holiday with her whole family, her mum Rachel, dad Kevin, sister Sinead, little brother Mitchell, and boyfriend Matt.

“My brother and her boyfriend and her little brother were there when it happened. I understand the boyfriend got her little brother away into the sea to get him away from it.

“She was a lively, fun-loving woman, who had her whole life in front of her.”

Ms Blackman was a volunteer with Derbyshire Autism Services Group, where she worked one-to-one with people with autism, including children, and help to give their families a break.

The group’s manager, Margaret Reeve, paid tribute to Ms Blackman yesterday, saying she was a “wonderful, wonderful young woman”.

Ms Reeve said: “She was a very genuine person, very warm, very funny, and had a great deal of time for people. She was a very good volunteer. People always spoke highly of her..

“Charlotte was one of those people who could walk into a room and make everybody smile.”

David Evans, environment officer for Dorset council, said the council’s geologist was investigating the landslide.