Tombstoning

Tombstoning is the act of jumping in a straight, upright vertical posture into the sea or other body of water from a high jumping platform, such as a cliff, bridge or harbour edge.[1] This posture of the body, resembling a tombstone, gives the activity its name.[2] A safety advisory from the Government of the United Kingdom records that tombstoning has been taking place for "generations".[3][4]In the United Kingdom between 2005 and 2015 there were 83 people injured and 20 people who died whilst tombstoning.[5]

Injuries and deaths

It was reported that "Between June and August [2007] there were nine drowning or near misses as a result of people jumping from height into the water. Five were fatal, and impact injuries such as neck and spinal injuries were common in those who survived."[6]

In the UK between 2004 and 2008 there were 139 incidents of tombstoning where a rescue or emergency response was required. Spinal injuries occured with 20% of these 139 incidents and 12 people died.[7]

In the UK between 2005 and 2015 there were 83 people injured and 20 people who died whilst tombstoning.[8]

Risks

Impact with water from height

When entering the water from height there is a greater impact on the body because of the "...greater force and the greater resistance of the water."[9]

It was reported that, "If you jump from 20 feet (6 meters) above the water, you'll hit the water at 25 mph (40 kph) -- the impact is strong enough to compress your spine, break bones or give you a concussion."[10]

It was also reported that "...if you add some horizontal velocity, your impact speed increases. ...from the same height, "[A] diver who gets a running start and develops a significant forward velocity will hit the water with more net speed than a diver who dives straight down without a push off.""[11]

Height falling from Velocity reached
5 feet (1.5 metres) 12 mph (19 kmh)[9]
10 feet (3 metres) 17 mph (27 kmh)[11]
20 feet (6 metres) 25 mph (40 kmh)[10]
50 feet (15 metres) 38 mph (61 kmh)[11]
85 feet (26 metres) 53 to 62 mph (85 to 100 kmh)[11]

Depth, tides and submerged objects

It has been reported that "the water may be shallower than it seems"[4] and that "...tides can rise and fall very quickly"[7] "...what may have been a deep pool at lunchtime may be a shallow puddle by tea time." [12]

It was also reported that "Objects like rocks, fishing gear, mooring lines and other under water hazards may not be visible" [12]

Cold water shock and Loss of breath

It has been reported that cold water temperatures "...can lead to cold water shock and can make even the most experienced swimmers unable to stay afloat."[12]and also that "...even in recent warm weather the waters around the UK are cold and when the body suddenly enters this environment it can cause an involuntary gasp resulting in water being breathed rather than air."[13]

It has also been reported that when falling into water "...that something as simple as having the wind knocked out of you could result in your death..."[9]

Getting out of the water and strong currents

It has been reported that after a person has jumped from height into water that "It may be impossible to get out of the water."[7] and that "...strong currents can rapidly sweep people away".[4]

Safety measures

The Maritime and Coastguard Agency released a safety document regarding tombstoning in conjunction with the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents.[3][4]

The increasing number of injuries and deaths attributing to tombstoning have increased calls for responses from local authorities and emergency services. At Plymouth Hoe, in Plymouth, Devon, where tombstoning is popular, the number of serious injuries and deaths[14] has led to the dismantling of seafront diving boards and closure of parts of the waterfront to discourage the activity.[15] Similar practices are employed at Holcombe, Somerset, Herne Bay Pier in Kent, and in areas of Southampton's Redbridge causeway, all popular tombstoning locations.[16]

Response

Criticism

Conversely, Paul Snelling in the journal Public Health Ethics has argued that criticism of tombstoning has been based purely on a health perspective which "fails to take into account the enjoyment that various health effecting habits brings and the contribution that this makes to a good life."[17] Residents of Portknockie in Moray defended tombstoning into the North Sea in July 2014 arguing that it was "a local tradition that dates back generations", pointing out that "the real dangers are when holidaymakers join in" who do not know when and where it is safe.[18] Jo Wood of The Guardian also criticised the anti-tombstoning arguments in 2006, stating that "By banning tombstoning in and around the bays at Newquay, authorities are forcing the tombstoners to less populated and known cliffs, around unknown rip currents, increasing the danger of a) a bad jump and b) not being spotted and easily rescued should something go wrong."[19]

References
Notes
  1. "BBC News - Warning as Devil's Bridge 'tombstoning' continues despite death". Bbc.co.uk. 2013-07-10. Retrieved 2014-08-25.
  2. "Tombstoning - Torbay Council". Torbay.gov.uk. Archived from the original on 2011-06-04. Retrieved 2014-08-25.
  3. "Tombstoning: safety advice" (PDF). Gov.uk. Retrieved 2022-04-19.
  4. "Coasteering and Tombstoning". NWSF. Archived from the original on 10 May 2021. Retrieved 15 March 2022.
  5. "Man dies after 'tombstoning' off Plymouth Hoe cliff". BBC. 14 October 2016. Archived from the original on 14 October 2016. Retrieved 15 March 2022.
  6. Walker, David (November 2007). "Tombstoning - a giant leap into the unkown" (PDF). RoSPA. Archived from the original (PDF) on 29 Jul 2021. Retrieved 15 March 2022.
  7. "Tombstoning – 'Don't jump into the unknown'". RoSPA. Archived from the original on 7 January 2022. Retrieved 15 March 2022.
  8. "Man dies after 'tombstoning' off Plymouth Hoe cliff". BBC. 14 October 2016. Archived from the original on 14 October 2016. Retrieved 15 March 2022.
  9. "CLIFFS PLUS DIVING = DANGER: WATER, GRAVITY CAN TURN THRILLER INTO A KILLER". Deseret News. 8 June 1989. Archived from the original on 15 March 2022. Retrieved 15 March 2022.
  10. Kolich, Heather. "How Cliff Diving Works". how stuff works. p. 4. Archived from the original on 6 March 2021. Retrieved 15 March 2022.
  11. Kolich, Heather. "How Cliff Diving Works". how stuff works. p. 2. Archived from the original on 6 March 2021. Retrieved 15 March 2022.
  12. Beresford, Alan (2 July 2020). "Tombstoning warning after Findochty Harbour incident". Grampian online. Archived from the original on 15 March 2022. Retrieved 15 March 2022.
  13. Thompson, George (26 July 2019). "The Port of Milford Haven warns against tombstoning". Western Telegraph. Archived from the original on 26 July 2019. Retrieved 15 March 2022.
  14. "Devon deaths warning over Plymouth Hoe tombstoning". BBC News. 18 June 2010.
  15. "'Unsafe' diving platform removed". BBC News. 17 February 2010.
  16. "Tombstoning campaign launched to stop serious injuries (From Daily Echo)". Dailyecho.co.uk. 2014-07-21. Retrieved 2014-08-25.
  17. Snelling, P. C. (2012). "What's Wrong with Tombstoning and What Does This Tell Us About Responsibility for Health?". Public Health Ethics.
  18. Whitfield, A. "‘Tombstoning’ a tradition, say Moray locals" Aberdeen Journals July, 2014.
  19. Wood, Jo (5 July 2006). "In defence of the thrill-seekers". The Guardian.
Sources
  • The dictionary definition of tombstoning at Wiktionary
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