Man in 20s dies after van plunges off South Shields cliff

A man in his 20s died after a van plunged over a cliff onto the beach below in the Marsden area of South Shields, northeastern England, early Wednesday morning.

Northumbria Police received a report around 6 a.m. of concern for the welfare of a person near the A183 Coast Road. Responders learned that a van had veered off the road and fallen over the cliffs. A large-scale emergency operation followed, involving Northumbria Police, the North East Ambulance Service, Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service, HM Coastguard, and Tynemouth RNLI, which described the effort as a multiagency call.

The North East Ambulance Service dispatched a clinical team leader and an ambulance crew to the scene shortly after 6:10 a.m. Emergency personnel conducted a search of the area, where they located the man's body. His next of kin have been notified.

A Northumbria Police spokesperson confirmed the details later that afternoon. "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 spokesperson said. "The man's next of kin have been informed. The vehicle involved in the incident is currently being recovered...