Flowers left in South Shields where man died after van tragically goes over cliff

A man in his 20s sadly lost his life after a van went over a cliff in the Marsden area of South Shields on Wednesday

12:01, 14 May 2026

Floral tributes have been left at the South Shields[1] coastline where a man in his 20s tragically died after a van went over a cliff. Emergency services and rescue teams were called to Marsden on Wednesday morning following reports that a van had went over the cliffside.

Northumbria Police later confirmed[2] that the body of a man in his 20s had been found. His next of kin have been informed and a report is being prepared for the coroner.

On Thursday morning, several tributes could be seen placed at the scene, including bunches of flowers, balloons and alcohol.

They were placed on a grassed area close to police tape which remains in the area.

In a statement on Wednesday, a spokesperson for the Northumbria Police[3] said: "At 6am today (Wednesday), we received a report of a concern for welfare of a person near the A183 Coast Road in South Shields[4]. It was reported that a vehicle had gone over the cliffs in the Marsden area.

"Emergency services attended the scene and following a search involving multiple partner agencies, the body of a man in his 20s was sadly found. The man's next of kin have been informed.

"The vehicle involved in the incident is currently being recovered from the scene.

There are believed to be no suspicious circumstances surrounding the man's death and a report is being prepared for the coroner."

Floral tributes left at the scene in South Shields after a van drove off a cliff(Image: Simon Greener/Newcastle Chronicle)

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References

1. ^ South Shields (www.chroniclelive.co.uk)
2. ^ Northumbria Police later confirmed (www.chroniclelive.co.uk)
3. ^ Northumbria Police (www.chroniclelive.co.uk)
4. ^ South Shields (www.chroniclelive.co.uk)
5. ^ NHS Choices website (www.nhs.uk)
6. ^ Samaritans (www.samaritans.org)
7. ^ [email protected] (www.chroniclelive.co.uk)
8. ^ Childline (www.childline.org.uk)
9. ^ PAPYRUS (www.papyrus-uk.org)
10. ^ Mind (www.mind.org.uk)
11. ^ Students Against Depression (studentsagainstdepression.org)
12. ^ Bullying UK (www.bullying.co.uk)
13. ^ James' Place (www.jamesplace.org.uk)
14. ^ Here's more information (www.chroniclelive.co.uk)
15. ^ clicking here (www.google.com)
16. ^ join this WhatsApp community here (www.chroniclelive.co.uk)