People ‘tombstoning’ in Lake District face prosecution (From The Westmorland Gazette)

People ‘tombstoning’ in Lake District face prosecution

8:30am Thursday 11th August 2011 in Ingleton news By Helen Perkins, Reporter

DANGER SPOT: Devil’s Bridge at Kirkby Lonsdale is a favourite place for thrill-seeking ‘tombstoners

SUMMER thrill-seekers who ‘tombstone’ from bridges and cliffs to plunge into pools at Cumbrian beauty spots are being threatened with prosecution.

Daredevil leapers have been warned that their actions could result in a criminal record as police attempt to clamp down on the craze.

The warning comes after South Lakeland’s youngest district councillor, Ben Berry, shattered his knee and femur when he leapt off a Scottish cliff and hit a rock.

Cumbria Police says officers will be sent to deal with tombstoners if alerted by members of the public.

Concerns are growing about the activity during the summer holidays, when popular locations such as Church Beck, near Coniston; Stickle Gill, in Langdale; Hawes Bridge near Kendal; Devil’s Bridge at Kirkby Lonsdale; and Ingleton Falls in North Yorkshire, attract thousands of young visitors.

Officers say they intend to use their powers under the Public Order Act to prosecute youngsters who ‘cause alarm and distress to others’ by tombstoning.

A police spokesman said: “People who get involved in this trend may see it as an exciting way to cool off but pay no attention to the risks.

“No ‘hobby’ is worth this level of risk. Not only do you have the potential to cause serious injury to yourself and those who may have to rescue you, you also run the risk of being prosecuted.”

Kirkby Lonsdale Town Council chairman Allan Muirhead said dozens of young people ‘tombstone’ from Devil’s Bridge each weekend in the summer.

“I’m not being a killjoy but you really shouldn’t do it.

"There is a patch of deep water under the bridge but it’s narrow and shelved by shallow areas.

“Every summer there are accidents – you can put money on it.”

Mr Berry said he had ‘paid the price’ for thrill seeking after he leapt off a cliff at Pitlochry, and shattered his knee cap, broke his femur and popped his hip when he hit rocks hidden underwater.

The 23-year-old, who lives at Troutbeck, spent three hours of torture on the side of river rapids while seven different rescue groups rushed to his aid.

He was airlifted to hospital by helicopter and underwent a five-hour operation to repair bone damage.

He has been told by Dundee doctors that his knee will never fully heal.

Mr Berry said he would never leap into outdoor water again but refused to criticise others who do so.

He said he had enjoyed 10 years of holiday fun at Pitlochry river rapids and would continue to enjoy ‘canyoning’ in future.

“My route down the river is a very popular one with organised groups.

"Me and my friends rode down the rapids on airbeds and jumped the parts you couldn’t get down.

“This year I thought we could try a new cliff on the opposite side of the pool.

"We did depth checks and swam all the way around the landing zone and it all looked good – but as soon as I landed I knew I needed an ambulance.

"I could tell my leg was mashed up even through my wetsuit.”

Mr Berry was criticised as a poor role model by a spokesman for South Cumbria Coastguard, who pointed out that 15 deaths and 50 serious injuries had resulted from tombstoning in the UK over the last six years.

He said: “He might think he’s ‘paid the price’ but there are other people who have ended up dead doing the same thing.

“Our message is don’t do it.”

However, Mr Berry was defended by Langdale and Ambleside Mountain Rescue Team team leader Nick Owen, who said he had also plunged into waterfalls – and had even taken his children with him.

“You’ve got to be cold sober and take safety precautions but there’s fun to be had,” he said.

“It’s been going on since man and water first got together and now there are many guided groups that make these jumps as part of their activities.”

A spokesman for Cumbria Tourism, which is promoting the county as the UK’s Adventure Capital, said it supported such activities only if carried out in organised groups.