Boy breaks leg tombstoning 60ft into three feet of water
A TEENAGE tombstoner from Plymouth has suffered a broken leg
and possible spinal injuries after jumping 60 feet into three
-
feet of water in Plymouth Sound this afternoon.
The police, coastguards, ambulance service and the RNLI were
all involved rescuing the boy after the accident at 3.30pm
today.
A spokeswoman for Brixham Coastguard said the 15-year-old
local boy had apparently jumped from the roof of the Royal
Corinthian Yacht Club in Madeira Road on the Hoe, and plunged
60 feet into just three feet of water.
A Plymouth Coastguard team alerted by the ambulance service
arrived to find the boy lying on the yacht club slipway.
He was picked up by Plymouth RNLI's Atlantic 75 inshore
lifeboat and taken back to the RNLI base at Millbay Marina.
There he was transferred by land ambulance to Derriford
Hospital with a broken left leg and suspected spinal
injuries.
The boy is believed to have been part of a large group who had
been jumping off the roof, but the accident ocurred two hours
after high water on a small ebbing neap tide.
The coastguard spokeswoman said: "Our advice is that if you
are jumping from heights, you should first ensure there is
enough water."
Coastguards have warned again about the dangers of
tombstoning.
Zoe Boyne, watch manager at Brixham Coastguard, said: “This
local lad should have known better.
“A lot of our local youngsters are very aware of the dangers
the sea can hold and they can guide tourists as to the ’do’s
and don’ts’ of local activity.
“It seems that there was a large group of youngsters
undertaking this activity and egging each other on to take that
extra bit of risk – and someone crossed the stupid line.”
Ms Boyne added: “We are appealing to parents to forewarn their
youngsters of the real dangers that exist by doing this.
“The sea falls and rises on the tide. That means the depth
changes.
“What was ’safe’ a few hours earlier may be the depth of a damp
flannel now. What looked great on You Tube might not look so
cool from the perspective of a wheelchair.”
54 Comments
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by mate of his, plymouth
Wednesday, August 20 2008, 11:56AM
“im 14 and a girl mate of his. not gunna say my name like. i think you people saying that hes a stupid boy need waking up. i go up onto the hoe nearly every weekend to watch the boys do this. its fun just hanging out. i mean there is absourloutely nothing else to do in plymouth. we are just making our own fun tbh. i think adults would want us doing this insteed of hanging around street coners drinkingg and making children :L naa hope you get well thou (:”
by angela, plymouth
Tuesday, July 15 2008, 8:37AM
“then maybe they won't do it........end of sentence from last comment”
by angela, plymouth
Tuesday, July 15 2008, 8:35AM
“Nicholas, how much more simple do you want the signs to get, surely anyone with half a brain will know that RED is danger, once the level has hit the red level on the sign then they shouldn't jump END OFF. BD Lipson......don't be silly......these yobs joining a properly run organization etc,at least you've made me laugh this morning apart from which you have to have money for these clubs etc and they don't come cheap having been involved in the competitive swimming scene. These brainless idiots would much rather spend their money on cans of booze etc. Tombstoning is free for them BUT for the rest of us who pay taxes and national insurrance we are the ones who end up paying for their stupidity for the rest of their lifes in many cases as they will end up on benefits of one kind or another. Make the family pay for the emergency services and any other treatment needed because it wasn't accidental was it he knew what he was doing so why should the rest of us pay, hit them where it hurts th”
by jc, plymouth
Monday, July 14 2008, 5:17PM
“jon,plymouth,this young man may have been foolish but have you read your comment ?? you have my sympathy !! very sad”
by jon, plymouth
Monday, July 14 2008, 4:12PM
“self inflicted,no sympathy.I worked with one of these for a few weekks.If the was typical of his generation,then reintrodue conscription,they'de make superb cannon fodder.”
by C, Plymouth
Monday, July 14 2008, 8:32AM
“He is an idiot, no sympathy from me. Is he thick? Does he not watch the news or read the papers?”
by Nicholas, Plymouth
Monday, July 14 2008, 8:11AM
“In the real world, there are charts for ocean going vessels that indicate the location of underwater hazards, such as submerged rocks and wrecks; they also show their location at the lowest possible tide, so you can take this into account.
In the real world, the council should put simple charts up at known tombstone locations for the kids to see where it is safe to jump, and where is not.
In the REAL world.”
by Mary, Plymouth
Monday, July 14 2008, 1:41AM
“What a load off C***P If there is an easier way of joining PLEASE let me know”
by Mary, plymouth
Monday, July 14 2008, 1:36AM
“Do you have to be "blue eyed boy's" to join this site.”
by Mary, Timbucktoo
Monday, July 14 2008, 1:34AM
“Do you only listen to "C--P”