Cliff collapse creates outline of human face on Sunderland beach

How about this for a cliff face?
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Echo reader Michael Naisbitt captured this remarkable image while out for a walk on Ryhope beach.

A rockfall has created the silhouette of a human face, clearly visible from the beach below.

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Salesman Michael, 45, lives in Ryhope and is a regular victor to the village’s beach. He spotted the stunning sight while out on one of his frequent seafront walks: “I am down three or four times a week with the dogs,” he said.

The 'face' is clearly visible from the beach.The 'face' is clearly visible from the beach.
The 'face' is clearly visible from the beach.

“It is only a ten-minute walk from the house.”

The ‘face’ is clearly visible, but has only recently appeared: “It must have been Thursday evening – it is where the cliff has just recently collapsed,” said Michael.

“From the top of the cliff, looking down, you can’t really see it, but if you are walking along the beach, it is pretty hard to miss with the sky behind it.”

He initially assumed the image was a coincidence of angles, but discovered the face remained visible when he moved.

The face in closeupThe face in closeup
The face in closeup
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“At first I thought it might change shape as you walked past, but in fact it retains its shape until you pass it,” he said.

“It looks like one of the Easter Island statues.”

Michael posted a picture of the face on social media and and it drew comparisons with a world famous landmark.

“I put a piece about it on a Ryhope Facebook page and people were comparing it to Mount Rushmore,” he said.

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