Overview

• Senior coroner Jon Heath opened the inquests at Northallerton on September 22 and recorded a provisional cause of death of multi-trauma for both.
• The deceased were confirmed as David Jeffcock, 80, and his wife Susan, 74, who lived in Whitby.
• Police reported that a member of the public spotted a man and woman on the rocks below East Cliff on July 30, prompting the emergency call.
• A large response involving police, paramedics, mountain rescue and a coastguard helicopter attended, and the couple were pronounced dead at the scene before their bodies were taken to hospital.
• The inquests were adjourned to a date yet to be fixed, with tributes left near the cliff and unverified witness accounts reported of the pair being seen hand-in-hand.