Tributes left to landslide victim
Words of sympathy and support have flooded in after the freak death of a kind Heanor woman who had ‘her whole life ahead of her’.
Charlotte Blackman, of Mansfield Road, was holidaying with her family at the seaside resort of Burton Bradstock, Dorset, when rock from a 160ft-high cliff collapsed on her, burying her in 400 tonnes of rubble.
Her body was found after a nine hour search shortly before 10pm on Tuesday, July24.
Poignant tributes have been paid to the caring 22-year-old, who volunteered at Derbyshire Autism Services Group for three years, by the head teacher of her former school Aldercar Community and Language College
Tony Cooper said: “She was a smashing girl she really was.
“She was delightful, hard working, and she had her whole life ahead of her.
“She had a very bright future and was never a minute’s trouble. She worked hard, represented the school and gave her commitment when she studied here.
“It has certainly deeply affected all the staff that knew her here.”
When the tragic news broke, Charlotte’s uncle Douglas Blackman, of Kent, wrote on Facebook:”Very very sad,we lost Charlotte.
“We will always remember her. My thoughts are with my brother and his family in their darkest hour.”
Manager of the Derbyshire Autism services Group where Charlotte volunteered, Margaret Reeve, did not wish to comment in respect of the grieving family.
Dorset Police said Charlotte’s mother Rachel and father Kevin have declined to speak publicly in the wake of their daughter’s death.
They were on holiday with her at the time with her boyfriend Matt and their youngest son Mitchell, who still attends Aldercar Community and language College.
Heanor mayor Bob Janes has offered his condolences to the Blackman family.
“Here was a young lass that was making a success of her life - who worked with others and supported people, it just doesn’t seem fair.
They were on holiday one minute and then the next. It’s quite terrible.”
Craig Baker, incident commander of Dorset Fire and Rescue at the scene, said: “It is a very tragic incident and our deepest condolences go out to the family.
“We put every effort into the search and rescue operation.”
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Weather for Ripley
Friday 24 May 2013
Today
Light showers
Temperature: 6 C to 11 C
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Wind direction: North
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