An 18-year-old girl, Keeleigh Plant, sadly lost her life after falling 100ft from a cliff edge while trying to rescue her dog. Keeleigh was out for a stroll with her boyfriend at Hope Cove, Devon, when her furry friend decided to chase after a rabbit, leading to the tragic incident. Despite the quick help from onlookers and the arrival of an air ambulance, Keeleigh couldn’t be saved and was pronounced dead at the scene. The coroner later ruled her death as accidental, citing multiple trauma injuries as the cause.
Keeleigh’s family shared that she had big plans ahead of her, including a gap year before university and a new job. She was well-liked at the local pub where she worked and had a strong love for animals. Additionally, she was a dedicated student of maths and IT in Kingsbridge.
The unfortunate event took place on May 19, 2023. Keeleigh, along with her boyfriend and their two cockapoo dogs, set out from their Galmpton home around 12.45pm for South Milton beach, stopping for pizza at Hope Cove along the way. As they made their way back along the coast path, a rabbit crossed their path, setting off the chain of events that led to Keeleigh’s fall.
One of the dogs returned, but as Keeleigh called out for the second one, she ended up falling off the cliff edge. Her boyfriend, who was too far away to prevent the accident, saw her lying face-down on the beach below after she fell. A nearby woman witnessed the couple’s attempt to retrieve their dogs before the tragic fall occurred.
The woman only had a partial view of Keeleigh right before she fell and heard her calling out for the dog. Keeleigh’s boyfriend, unable to reach her in time, shouted that she had fallen, prompting the woman to call emergency services.
Despite efforts from beachgoers and an off-duty first responder to perform CPR, Keeleigh showed no signs of life. The emergency call was made at 3.24pm, and by 4.16pm, after paramedics arrived, she was officially declared deceased on Beacon Beach. The police found no foul play in the incident, and a post-mortem examination confirmed that her death was a result of multiple traumas from the fall.
Coroner Alison Longhorn described the incident as a “really tragic accident,” noting that Keeleigh had been making plans for her future before it occurred. Keeleigh’s family revealed that she was a high-achieving student who had been involved in various activities, such as being a mental health ambassador during her sixth form years. She had also worked at local establishments like The Old Inn Malborough and the Lobster Pod at Hope Cove, in addition to securing a job at Tesco.
Born in Plymouth, Keeleigh was adopted by her foster parents and had a passion for animals, travel, and learning to drive. She took great joy in walking her dogs daily and was familiar with the route she had taken on the day of the accident.
Overall, the community mourns the loss of Keeleigh Plant, a young woman with a bright future ahead of her, cut short by a tragic accident. Her memory lives on in the hearts of those who knew and loved her.
