Police have launched an investigation after an 18-year-old woman fell from a cliff and died in Thurso.
The woman, named locally as Alesha Wright, was pronounced dead at the scene, while a 26-year-old man was taken to Raigmore hospital for treatment.
Police say Alesha’s death is unexplained.
Witnesses saw a man and woman falling from the cliffside at Victoria Walk from a crowded carpark. The two casualties were then seen at the bottom of the 50ft cliffs.
‘Everyone was shocked, there was silence’
A police spokeswoman said: “Around 5.50pm on Monday, July 11, officers were called to the Victoria Walk area in Thurso, following a report of a man and woman having fallen from a cliff.
“Emergency services and Coastguard attended but an 18-year-old woman had died.
“Her next of kin have been informed. Her death is being treated as unexplained and inquiries into the circumstances are ongoing.
“A 26-year-old man was taken to Raigmore Hospital in Inverness for treatment.”
Mary MacLeod, 56, from Oban was in the area when the accident happened. She said: “It was very busy and all of a sudden someone screamed and people rushed to where the young couple had gone over the cliff.
“We phoned 999 but it was clear that there was nothing could be done for the girl.
“Everyone was shocked, there was just silence. We were on our holidays, but we are going home now.”
A spokesman for Thurso RNLI said: “Thurso RNLI lifeboat The Taylors was launched on Monday, July 11, at 6.06pm in response to the report of a man and woman having fallen from a cliff west of Thurso Caravan Park.
“Local Coastguard, Scottish Ambulance Service and Police Scotland were also in attendance.”
He continued: “The lifeboat arrived on scene at 6.08pm and immediately launched the inflatable Y boat with two crew members on board.
Man taken to hospital after Thurso fall
“The Y boat was beached and the two crew members quickly located the two casualties, one male and one female, lying on the rocks at the bottom of 50ft sheer cliffs.
“The crew members attended to them until the arrival of a paramedic who was winched down from the search and rescue helicopter from Inverness.
“The young man was winched up by the helicopter to a waiting ambulance.
“The female casualty was transferred to a stretcher and taken by the Y boat to The Taylors and then taken to Scrabster where she was transferred into the care of Police Scotland.”
Conversation