Nick Cave's son Arthur, 15, dies in cliff fall near Brighton beach

 
Arthur Cave, 15, right, and musician father Nick
PA/Sussex Police
Rachel Blundy15 July 2015

Nick Cave's son has died after falling from a cliff next to a beach in Brighton.

Arthur Cave, 15, was left seriously injured after falling from cliffs at Ovingdean Gap yesterday afternoon.

Police were called to the scene at about 6pm after reports that the teenager had fallen 60ft to the coastal path below.

Passers-by rushed to give the boy first aid at the scene as they desperately tried to save his life.

He was taken to Royal Sussex County hospital with "life-threatening injuries" but died just a few hours later.

A coroner is now investigating his death but it is understood the incident is being treated as a tragic accident and not suicide.

Death fall: The cliffs at Ovingdean gap Picture: Rex
Rex

Sussex Police said today that his death was "not being treated as suspicious".

In a statement, his parents, singer Nick and model wife Susie, described him as a "beautiful, happy, loving boy".

They said: "Our son Arthur died on Tuesday evening. He was our beautiful, happy, loving boy.

Family loss: Susie Bick and Nick Cave with their children Earl and Arthur (right) in 2013 (Picture: Nick Harvey/WireImage)
Nick Harvey/WireImage


"We ask that we be given the privacy our family needs to grieve at this difficult time."

The couple, who previously lived in south west London but now live in Brighton, have a second son together, Arthur's twin brother Earl.

Cave, best known as being lead singer of the band Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, also has two sons from previous relationships.

Last year, he and his wife appeared alongside Arthur and Earl in 20,000 Days On Earth, a film documenting a fictitious 24 hours in the singer's life.

In an interview with the Guardian in 2008, he revealed that Arthur was a keen drummer, while Earl was learning to play the guitar.

Lucy Hopson, Arthur's school friend, paid tribute to him today.

She told the Brighton Argus: "This news is shocking, being at school with Arthur in the recent two years I formed a good friendship with him.

"It saddens me greatly to find out this news, because he was such a kind, hilarious and fun to be around person. Rest in peace Arthur."

Arthur's death comes as a group of teenagers were pictured yesterday balancing precariously on the edge of a cliff just a few minutes walk from Ovingdean Gap.

The children are thought to have been foreign language students who were unaware of how the cliff's chalk edges can crumble at any moment.