TRIBUTES have been paid to a much-loved grandmother who died after plunging 60 feet from a cliff top path while out on a ramble with a walking group in Cumbria.

Valerie Bates, 77, from Heswall, passed away last Sunday, despite a massive rescue effort to save her.

A member of The Village and West Kirby Walking Clubs, Mrs Bates was described by family as a "much-loved wife, mother, grandmother and great grandmother, loved and respected by so many." 

Her funeral will take place at Landican on Thursday, April 12 at 11.30am.

Stepdaughter Nikki Bates told the Globe: "Val was a very experienced and accomplished walker who had completed many long distance walks including the Camino de Santiago 775km pilgrimage, the Coast to Coast and the Great Glen from Fort William to Inverness.

"We would like to thank the multiagency response to this tragic accident, including the Police (PC Westworth and Masters) from Kendal who were extremely compassionate and supportive."

Members of the emergency services 'fought very hard' to keep Mrs Bates alive after she fell onto the beach between Arnside and Silverdale while out on a ramble with a walking group.

She was found unconscious in shallow water, by a retired coastguard member. He alerted the emergency services and administered CPR.

The local coastguard, two air ambulances, a coastguard helicopter, Morecambe RNLI boats and hovercraft, the ambulance service and Bowland Pennine Mountain Rescue Team were called to the scene.

Andy Pringle, station officer for Arnside coastguard, who was first to arrive on the scene said: "This fall took place in an area that is very hard to get to. 

"When the woman fell, the tide was almost fully in, only just starting to go out again.

"She had a severe head injury, and when we got to her we couldn't find a pulse.

"When the man found her it must have only just happened, as he said the walkers she was with were still staring down in shock at what had happened.

"The teams took it in turns to give her CPR. Everybody fought very hard to keep her alive, and she was fighting as well.

"At points we thought we had saved her. Sometimes we could feel a pulse coming back.

"When we had her ready to go in the air ambulance we thought we had done it. She looked like she might be okay."

The first air ambulance to attend the scene was from the Great North Air Ambulance, however when it was realised a doctor was needed, the North West Air Ambulance was called for.

Mr Pringle said that as the location of the fall was so far from a road, the land ambulance was not able to gain access to the woman.

Arnside coastguard also said it was feared that the helicopters would not be able to land as the sand would be too soft.

It was decided to call the coastguard helicopter from Holyhead which had a winch.

This was not used however, as the ground firmed up.

The crews managed to keep the walker alive for more than an hour, however she died in the air ambulance from complications while being flown to the Royal Preston Hospital.

Adam Bradbury, Coastguard Station Officer for the North West, said: "The emergency services did very well and showed they were well trained, however on this occasion there was a sad outcome.

"Inch by inch the coast is the most dangerous part of the UK, and every year at least one person is injured in this particular area near Arnside.

"We warn people to stay away from the edges of these cliffs. They can be slippy and icy.

"We have all sorts of incidents, and we know people like to take pictures, for example, near the edges, but people need to respect these edges."

Mr Pringle added: "This was a difficult rescue because of the location, but everybody worked really well together to fight to save this woman."

Morecambe RNLI volunteer Colin Midwinter said: "This was a very serious incident and we were glad to be able to play our part in what was an excellent example of multi-agency co-operation."

It is not known how Mrs Bates came to fall from the cliff. She was walking along the popular Arnside to Silverdale coastal route with a group of fellow walkers.

However, it is not believed the section of path from which she fell is particularly dangerous.