Wendy says, "Accepted into the Archive. It's a slow news day. Ordinarily I'd agree with several of the moderators that this is a common fall, and even go further and say it was accidental. But... chasing a feather?!"

Woman fell to her death while chasing a feather

The walker, who was in her 40s, had been following a coastal footpath when she spotted the bird feather and went to pick it up. As the wind caught it and blew it close to the edge, she ignored safety warnings and climbed over metal railings lining the cliff top.

Paramedics rushed to the scene and the victim, from Taunton, Somerset, was airlifted to hospital by Coastguards at 5pm on Saturday. But despite doctors' efforts, she died of head injuries the following day at Dorset County Hospital in Dorchester, Dorset.

A spokesman for Portland Coastguard said: "A woman had slipped down the cliff after she went to retrieve a feather. "She had been leaning over to pick up the feather and just toppled over. She received head injuries from which she later died."

Onlookers said the victim's brother had been at her side following the fall.

Eyewitness and teacher Sean Doogan, 39, from Plymouth, Devon, said: "She had just fallen when we got to the spot. The woman's brother was kneeling beside her."

Another 34-year-old witness added: "The woman was laying on the path at the bottom of the cliff. We heard she was out walking with her brother and had slipped. It was a real shock."

John Shiel, chairman of the parish council's foreshore and footpaths committee, said the railings were put in place to prevent such accidents. He said: "It is a tragedy. This cliff is about 80ft high. Fencing is there to protect people from falling."

Submitted on 12/08/2009

Submitted by: Michael, Resa Wynn, Vajk Farkas
Reference: Telegraph.co.uk 23 Feb 2009

Copyright © 2009 DarwinAwards.com

Bruce said:
Definitely Toss: Too Common
Thanks, Michael, but we get lots of similar stories. From chasing feathers to trying to get the "perfect" scenic photograph or trying to collect a rare flower, we get lots of stories of people falling from the tops of cliffs while ignoring warning signs.

James said:
Definitely Keep: Darwin Award
Bruce has a point, but part of the fun of an otherwise common "fall" is what motivated a person to put themselves at risk in the first place. I can understand chasing a hat (sentimental value) or trying to pick a rare flower (stationary), but a FEATHER? This is right out of the ol' cartoon "chasing the winning ticket gag" department! I'll vote DA!

Candi said:
Definitely Toss: Repeat
Sorry, Michael, but we received this one back when it happened. Thanks anyway, and submit again!

Graham said:
Definitely Toss: Lacks Excellence
If the woman was dumb enough to ignore the warning signs and climb over the barriers there can be only one conclusion - she could not read. Either this, or she suffered from an insatiable desire to remove herself from the gene pool!

Jack said:
Definitely Keep: Darwin Award
While the story could have used a better write up, it does meet the criterion for a DA.

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