A man scaled the rocks forming the waterfall at Dockber Farm near Sawley, Lancashire, when he was attending the Beat-Herder music festival on site – but nearly died after falling 20ft
Following a hair-raising incident, a tourist is urging others to heed safety warnings after he “nearly died” falling down a 20ft waterfall.
Matt Horsfall, a 39-year-old daredevil, was clambering over the rocks at the waterfall in Lancashire while at the Beat-Herder music festival, despite signage cautioning against it. He took an unexpected plunge when he lost his footing, resulting in a few minutes of immobility, a bruised back and persistent wrist pain. Reflecting on the mishap, which occurred on July 21, the hospitality worker said: “I nearly died.”
He admitted: “It was very painful and I was really worried but luckily I could walk around a few minutes later.”
Concerned about the consequences of ignoring such risks, he added: “I really ought to have gone to hospital though – my wrist still twinges. I’d had a few drinks and thought it was funny but it really wasn’t. Signs are for your own safety: please take note of them.”
In August 2024, a man fell down a waterfall in the Lake District. Keswick Mountain Rescue Team (KMRT) were called out to the 80ft (25m) Fisher Place Gill in the Lake District. He had been seen on the edge of ‘the infinity pool’ and slipped after reaching out his hand to help his partner to the spot.
The incident occurred by one of the mountain streams descending from the Helvellyn Ridge. Bystanders were able to help the man out of the water at the bottom of the waterfall. He was then treated by a crew from the Great North Air Ambulance (GNAAS), who later took him to Newcastle’s Royal Victoria Infirmary.
In 2022, another incident where a woman feel 80 foot down a waterfall and survived was dubbed a miracle. Cara Sutton, 26, from Aigburth, Liverpool, was on holiday with her boyfriend, James, 25, when she plunged from the side of the waterfall in Coed-y-Brenin, North Wales.
The pharmacist was some five metres away from the edge when she slipped to her knees and slowly started to slide towards the drop. But she had still been wearing her helmet from biking earlier in the day, and survived the fall – despite suffering a broken spine, a shattered pelvis, a collapsed lung and multiple broken ribs.
After she was airlifted to the Major Trauma Centre at Royal Stoke University Hospital, doctors fought to save her life and five months on Cara was home and walking again.
Cara said to the Mirror: “I remember James shouting back to tell me to be careful because it was slippery, just as I fell to my knees. I was sliding around all over the place and tried to grab onto some moss to stop myself but it just ripped off into my hand. The edge was behind me so I didn’t even realise I was about to fall until I fell backwards and saw the edge of the cliff go past me.”
