Five Trapped in Saint Margarets Bay Caves Spark Major Rescue Mission
Urgent Search Launched at Sunset
A huge search and rescue operation kicked off at Saint Margarets Bay on Saturday evening after reports of five people trapped in the tricky cave network. Coastguard teams from Folkestone, Deal, and Langdon, alongside kent-police/" title="Kent Police" data-wpil-keyword-link="linked">Kent Police and Kent Fire and Rescue’s specialist rope team, rushed to the scene near Ness Point just outside Dover around 6.15pm.
Historic WWII Tunnel Becomes Hazard
The group is believed to have entered an old machine gun post tunnel carved into the chalk cliff — a WWII relic once designed to defend the beach from enemy landings. The brick-lined tunnel, topped with a tin roof, is now sealed but notoriously dangerous.
Rescue Teams Race Against Time on Cliff Face
Police were spotted scanning the beach and cliff with high-powered torches, as the trapped individuals are reportedly high up near the sealed post. A complex rope rescue plan is being finalised by Coastguard and fire service bosses.
“A rope rescue system will be set up, as those trapped are very high off the ground,” confirmed a rescue official.
Operation Coordinated by Dover Maritime Centre
The intense operation is being run from the Maritime Operations Centre in Dover, with Kent Police and Fire & Rescue teams working closely together. No updates on injuries have been released yet. More details to follow as the rescue unfolds.
