AN elderly rambler fell 70ft to her death in front of her husband while walking the South West Coast Path.

The woman, who was aged in her 80s, lost her balance and tumbled onto hard ground at Winspit Quarry. 

The abandoned quarry has previously been used as filming location for Doctor Who and for the first series of the Disney+ Star Wars prequel Andor.

Filming for the second season had to be cancelled last year due to concerns that parts of the quarry were unstable.

The woman was walking with her husband when she slipped and went over a sheer drop near the Purbeck village of Worth Matravers.

The police, ambulance service, three fire crews, three coastguard teams and the coastguard helicopter descended on the coastal scene after the alarm was raised.

But there was nothing they could do to save the woman who was pronounced dead at the scene at about 2.30pm on Saturday, June 22.

She came from Poole and her family has been notified. The Dorset coroner has also been informed.

Police confirmed that her death is not being treated as suspicious.

A coastguard spokesperson said: "She was walking with her husband along the South West Coast Path when she slipped and fell 60-70ft at Winspit Quarry on to hard ground.

"I believe they were regular walkers and the path is a couple of metres from the edge.

"The ground is good and solid there so it appears to be a tragic accident."

Worth Matravers, which is four miles west of Swanage, is located a short distance from the cliffs.

The coastal beauty spots of Chapman's Pool and St Aldhelm's Head are nearby.

A Dorset Police spokesperson said: "Dorset Police received a report at 2.03pm on Saturday from the ambulance service relating to of a woman in need of medical attention in the area of Winspit Road at Worth Matravers.

"Officers attended and very sadly the woman, aged in her 80s and from Poole, was pronounced dead at the scene.

"The death is not being treated as suspicious. The woman's family has been notified and the coroner has been informed.

"Our thoughts are with the woman's family and loved ones at this very difficult time."

A spokesperson for Swanage Fire Station said: "One crew was sent to Worth Matravers for a multi-agency incident involving a person falling from height.

"Unfortunately, the person passed away on scene and thoughts are with their family at this time."

Winspit Quarry was used as a quarry for Purbeck stone from the 18th century until 1940.

During the Second World War it was used as a military defence site and then opened to the public after the war. The site is now owned by the National Trust.