Staying Alive November 2007
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8 Staying Alive November 2007 Water special Tombstoning - a giant leap into the unknown By David Walker “If it wasn’t dangerous, we wouldn’t be doing it” … the answer given in response to the Times when they asked a young man why he jumped from cliffs, in the face of such an obvious danger. Tombstoning accidents June - August 2007 A 26 year old male was rescued by holidaymakers in an inflatable dinghy after jumping 65-100 foot from Durdle Door Rock in Dorset in August. The rescuer reportedly noticed him unconscious and having a fit in the seabed, his three friends ran from the scene. A 17 year old male jumped with friends from the Balloch Bridge into the River Leven in August and disappeared during one of his jumps. His body was found by police hours later. A 16 year old was killed after jumping from Minehead Harbour wall in August. He disappeared after getting into difficulties following a jump, and the Coastguard recovered his body six hours later. A 46 year old father of six died after landing on rocks after attempting a 30 foot jump from a building roof into the sea at Berry Head, Devon, in June. He had earlier been reported to be drinking with friends and had apparently performed this “stunt” before. A 29 year old male was in hospital after becoming unconscious after heavily impacting the water when jumping into the sea at Trevaunance Cove, Cornwall after reportably drinking in June, he was also treated for severe hypothermia. A 14 year old girl suffered spinal injuries after jumping 30 foot and landing on rocks at Armchair Rock in Paignton, Devon in June. A 39 year old, broke his neck and back when jumping from a 15 foot wall into 2 feet of seawater in Lyme Regis, Dorset in June. A 44 year old died in hospital after treatment for critical injuries sustained by jumping from Clacton Pier at Torbay, Devon with a group of friends after drinking on the Beach. In the same incident a 48 year old father of four died. A jumper at Bude canal sea lock November 2007 Staying Alive 9 Water special t leap into the unknown This summer has seen a misses as a result of people rise. Traditionally associated with DEEP WATER SOLING is a spate of cliff and structure jumping from height into the the southern areas of England, in form of climbing, over water jumping incidents, resulting in water. Five were fatal, and Cornwall and Devon, it has be- without any use of rope or death and a serious injury. impact injuries such as neck and come perceived as increasingly harness safety systems. The Coverage and comment in the spinal injuries were common in common throughout the rest of climber primarily relies upon mainstream press has been those who survived. the UK. This increased awareness their judgement, and skill to widespread, with some quarters The associated risks seem can in part be attributed to the climb, in addition to learning calling for a ban on the activity. obvious; being at height, the use of new media outlets such as how to fall and land correctly. Between June and August depth, density and temperature You-Tube, enabling participants The presence of deep water is there were nine drowning or near of the water along with the less to post video clips of their jumps to the climbers primary protec- easily identified factors such as a worldwide audience, and may- tion against serious injury. underwater rocks, tide and the be in part, due to greater coverage ability of the person to control given to the activity in the their fall and subsequent impact mainstream television and press. rush, while incidents involving with the water all add up to make Perhaps one of the more adults seem to be alcohol- it high risk. surprising elements of the recent related. Tombstoning accidents Cliff jumping became tagged incidents is that the average age Irrespective of whether the with the term ‘tombstoning’ of those who have been killed or risks are obvious or not, the June - August 2007 around 2003, the title is a seriously injured is above 30 judgement of those taking part in reference to the way the person years old. Hospital episode data this activity needs consideration. A 26 year old male was rescued by holidaymakers in an falls and plunges deep into a also points towards the same In many other outdoor and inflatable dinghy after jumping 65-100 foot from Durdle Door pool of water, in much extreme activities Rock in Dorset in August. The rescuer reportedly noticed him the same way a stone Tombstoning will always be a high risk, there are often unconscious and having a fit in the seabed, his three friends would. Quite often it natural barriers to ran from the scene. is done as part of high impact activity and we will see participation; climb- organised activity, more serious injuries and fatalities ing often requires a A 17 year old male jumped with friends from the Balloch such as coasteering good knowledge of Bridge into the River Leven in August and disappeared during and deep water soloing age/gender profile with 31 years rope work and navigation, many one of his jumps. His body was found by police hours later. (climbing). Participants jump old being the mean age, and two watersports requires a technical from man-made structures such thirds of all the cases involving grasp of the craft and an A 16 year old was killed after jumping from Minehead Harbour as piers or bridges, or natural males. The youngest victim we understanding of the water or wall in August. He disappeared after getting into difficulties features such as cliffs. The are aware of is a 13 year old who sea conditions. In gaining these following a jump, and the Coastguard recovered his body six nature of tombstoning is that it is suffered head, neck and spinal often-technical skills, the hours later. a high risk, high impact activity. injuries. While not entirely participants are equally gaining Although this activity has exclusive, a noticeable trend the soft skills of experience and A 46 year old father of six died after landing on rocks after been around for generations, its shows that teenagers seem to judgement. This apprenticeship attempting a 30 foot jump from a building roof into the sea at profile is only just beginning to be participating purely for the required by the nature of many Berry Head, Devon, in June. He had earlier been reported to be drinking with friends and had apparently performed this “stunt” before. Elizabeth Walker, RoSPA’s leisure information officer, points out the A 29 year old male was in hospital after becoming warning sign at a popular unconscious after heavily impacting the water when jumping tombstoning site into the sea at Trevaunance Cove, Cornwall after reportably drinking in June, he was also treated for severe hypothermia. A 14 year old girl suffered spinal injuries after jumping 30 foot and landing on rocks at Armchair Rock in Paignton, Devon in June. A 39 year old, broke his neck and back when jumping from a 15 foot wall into 2 feet of seawater in Lyme Regis, Dorset in June. A 44 year old died in hospital after treatment for critical injuries sustained by jumping from Clacton Pier at Torbay, Devon with a group of friends after drinking on the Beach. In the same incident a 48 year old father of four died. 10 Staying Alive November 2007 Water special COASTEERING takes place Tombstoning - a giant along the intertidal zone, it is a mixed water and rock activity. Essentially the participants traverse along a stretch of coastline using a mixture of leap into the unknown climbing and swimming tech- niques, tombstoning and outdoor and extreme sports is country which offer plunge pooling It may prove prudent to better jumping into water is required not necessarily required for and coasteering “taster sess- understand and start to address to complete many routes. tombstoning, or to put it another ions”. The potential development the underlying causes of these Wetsuits, buoyancy aids and way; any fool can leap in. of new courses, or a new national incidents, rather than immediately rope work systems - in Outside of those whom deep governing body may help to call for a regulatory approach. addition to rescue boat water solo, or go coasteering the promote a good alternative. It is not logical to expect this backups - are commonplace. recognition of the risks involved However, both of these activity to stop, even if the calls The Adventure Activities in tombstoning is arguably not at assume the participant is actively to ban are acted upon. It is rea- Licensing Authority has a list the level it should be. There may seeking to understand and sonable to expect that participants of activity centres offering be several reasons for this; there manage the risks. The cases we are given the opportunity to inform coasteering www.aala.org/. is little by way of direct advice for have seen this summer, and over themselves about the risks. would be participants, of that is the longer term involving adults, In the wider context it is available it is often hard to access, quite often begs questions about questionable if we equip enough packs is one resource aimed to so those seeking to try tomb- our relationship with alcohol, and in young people with the skills, help inform debate among stoning (especially teenagers) will the wider context, our understan- knowledge and experience to teenagers about risk taking in the come across informal information ding and acknowledgement of risk.