After two months and seven major
incidents – with jumps comparable to the height of Nelson’s Column, the
equivalent of fifteen double-decker buses or over three times the height of
the Angel of the North – the RNLI identifies the profile of a ‘typical
tombstoner’.
Tombstoning is
when a person
jumps into the sea from a height, for example from a cliff, bridge or pier.
RNLI research of recent
incidents* shows that the typical tombstoner is 28 years old, male, often
part of a group with others of a similar age, either living locally or
holidaying in the south of England, and will jump an average of 32 feet (9.8
metres).
Steve Wills, RNLI’s Beach Safety
Manager, says:
‘Obviously there are exceptions
to the rule – a 14 year old girl and three men in their forties have also
been victims of this tragic activity – however this profile does seem to
reflect the typical person involved in tombstoning incidents that the RNLI
has encountered recently.
‘Worryingly, this year so far
there have been at least five deaths that we know of from tombstoning.
Compare this with research from the Royal Society for the Prevention of
Accidents (RoSPA), which details only seven deaths from tombstoning over a
six year period (1997-2003), and we have a serious situation on our hands.
‘Our advice applies to everyone
– young, old, male and female – don’t do it. Jumping from a height into
water can kill. I urge people to think of the consequences of their actions.
Young adults and teenagers can be easily impressionable and there have been
reports of websites displaying tombstoning videos and incidents involving
older men jumping into the sea – I’m concerned that young people may try to
copy what they see.’
RoSPA
figures also show that on average over 100 people are admitted to hospital
each year for treatment following tombstoning incidents.
Steve Wills continues:
‘The aim of the RNLI’s
lifeguards and volunteer lifeboat crews is to ultimately save lives at sea.
When a jump turns to tragedy it is a terribly sad use of their time.’
The RNLI operates a lifeboat
service around the UK and Republic of Ireland. It also provides a lifeguard
service on 71 beaches in the south and east of England, and there are in
total over 300 lifeguard-patrolled beaches around the coast. The charity’s
recent seaside safety campaign, Beachwise, advises that people only swim at
lifeguard patrolled beaches.
*RNLI research of recent notable
incidents involving people jumping into water from a height:
