Keeleigh Plant, 18, fell from a cliff while trying to retrieve her cockapoo during a coastal walk with her boyfriend

 An 18-year-old woman fell to her death while trying to retrieve her dog from the edge of a cliff during a coastal walk near Hope Cove in Devon. The tragic incident occurred in May 2023, and an inquest held at Exeter Coroner’s Court this week confirmed Keeleigh Plant died from multiple injuries after plunging 100ft onto a rocky beach.

Ms Plant, who lived in the nearby village of Galmpton, had been walking with her boyfriend Oliver Griffiths and their two cockapoo dogs, Bertie and Cooper. The dogs were off their leads when they spotted a wild rabbit and began chasing it across the cliffside terrain.

Coroner’s officer Jim Stein told the court that when one of the dogs failed to return on command, Keeleigh went after it. “Sadly, she fell off the side of the cliff,” he said.

Mr Griffiths recounted how both he and Keeleigh were trying to regain control of the dogs. After securing Cooper, Keeleigh leaned over near the edge in an effort to retrieve Bertie. He said she was only a few feet from the cliff, and he was not close enough to grab her when she fell. It remained unclear whether she slipped or the unstable ground beneath her feet gave way.

A nearby witness, who had been sitting on a bench overlooking the area, told the inquest she saw Keeleigh leaning over and calling her dog. “I could see her bottom as she leaned over the cliff edge. I didn’t hear her scream. She was not pushed,” the witness said, emphasising that the couple had been attempting to retrieve the dog for nearly ten minutes before the fall.

Police who attended the scene later confirmed there were no suspicious circumstances, describing the cliff edge as jagged and uneven. Emergency services responded swiftly, and passers-by tried to assist, but Keeleigh had sustained fatal injuries.

Area coroner Alison Longhorn ruled the death as accidental. She said, “This was a really tragic accident. Sadly, cliffs are dangerous places and people try to rescue their dogs without thinking of their own safety.”

Keeleigh had recently completed her A-levels and was planning to take a gap year before beginning a finance degree at the University of Winchester. Her mother, Pauline Plant, described her daughter as a “private person” who was dedicated to her studies and often asked for additional schoolwork. “Home was her safe place,” she added.

Keeleigh’s death has cast a long shadow over the quiet South Devon coastline, a popular spot for walkers and tourists. Hope Cove, with its scenic beauty and steep drops, has been the site of several accidents over the years, prompting repeated warnings from local authorities about the dangers of venturing too close to the edge—especially when distracted.

Animal charities and coastguard officials have long urged dog walkers to avoid taking risks to retrieve pets in perilous locations, advising them to call for help rather than approach unsafe cliff edges themselves. Dogs are often more sure-footed and may return on their own, whereas owners may be putting themselves at serious risk.

Keeleigh Plant’s tragic passing serves as a stark reminder of the dangers that natural beauty spots can pose. A vibrant life cut short in a moment of instinctive compassion—her loss is being deeply felt by family, friends, and the wider Devon community.