Last updated at 16:38, Tuesday, 14 August 2012

YOUTHS are putting their lives at risk by ‘tombstoning’ into deep water, emergency services have claimed.

Millom Coastguard says the recent spell of hot weather has seen an increase in youths jumping off the old sea wall, at Haverigg, in to the deep pool of water at the former mining site.

The crew is stepping up training next week as a result, practising retrieving spinal casualties from the water.

Gary Mitchell, spokesman for Haverigg Inshore Rescue, says the problem is an annual concern.

He said: “As soon as the hot weather comes all the youths flock to the area.

“It’s an accident waiting to happen.

“The old collapsed sea wall where they jump off, the water is that deep that it is off the register at certain points.

“People jumping from that height, landing in the cold water, they could get a shock and seize up.

“If they go under it would take some time to find them because it is extremely deep in there.

“There are other areas where they jump off the rocks, on the new sea wall, in to the sea.

“There’s a particular hollow where they jump in to and it is 80 to 100 foot deep.”

Millom police Inspector, Mark Wear, said: “Jumping into any water is very dangerous and can cause serious risk to life.

“We have experienced some recent warm weather and people want to enjoy themselves along our coastal areas but we strongly warn against jumping off any high places into any water.

“Jumping into water, including the sea, is very dangerous and you can never be sure what is underneath you, how deep the water is, or what you could potentially hit.

“You have the potential to cause serious injury to yourself and those who may have to rescue you.”

Walney Coastguard has reported similar problems in the past, with people ‘tombstoning’ in to Walney Channel, near the Dock Museum.

Warnings have also been issued about the dangers of jumping off Ulpha Bridge.

And in a recent high profile case 22-year-old man died after jumping in to the River Lune, from Devil’s Bridge at Kirkby Lonsdale, in July.

First published at 16:32, Tuesday, 14 August 2012
Published by http://www.nwemail.co.uk