A woman who posed for a photograph in a bikini as Eastbourne Pier burned in the background has responded to angry complaints after the image went viral.
Louisa Foley, who is from Eastbourne, was visiting the beach with a friend when the photograph was taken and said it was a 'great photo opportunity'
The image, which has been viewed more than a million times, shows Miss Foley in a leopard print bikini sipping cider as flames engulf the pier.
After it was uploaded to Reddit the image received criticism from users who said it was “disrespectful.”
One user wrote: “Really wish people would stop taking pictures of my town's historic landmark burning. So many memories on that pier.”
Another commented: “So fashionable to enjoy destruction and human suffering.”
Miss Foley, a student, said: “My friend was visiting Eastbourne, where I’m from, so we decided to pop down to the beach. We were drinking and enjoying the sun when she asked me if the pier usually has smoke coming from it.”
“That’s when we realised it was on fire and saw it as a great photo opportunity – it’s not exactly something you see everyday.
She added: “It’s ridiculous. It’s a great shame that it’s happened as the pier’s obviously a great landmark in Eastbourne, but at the end of the day there’s all kinds of photos throughout history of similar events.
“I’m not part of any ‘new’ selfie taking generation, for starters, it’s quite obviously not a selfie.”
“I think it’s hilarious how some people are making assumptions of how I’m a tourist or on my day off from work – why do they care? They’re making assumptions about my life and who I am, which is none of their business.”
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