PLUNGE PERIL
What is tombstoning and why is it so dangerous?
THRILLSEEKERS continue to risk their life by jumping 200ft off the top of Durdle Door just weeks after three men were seriously injured tombstoning.
Jumping into the unknown from a cliff or pier into water can result in serious injury or even death, say officials.
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What is tombstoning?
Tombstoning involves either jumping or diving from a height into water.
Thrillseekers hurl themselves from high-up ledges, such as cliffs, piers and other structures into water below – often unaware of how deep the water may be and what lies beneath it.
It's called tombstoning because of the way a person falls and plunges into deep water - similar to a stone.
The leap is easy to misjudge and often leads to serious and fatal injury as jumpers hurl themselves on to submerged rocks and debris below the surface.
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The Maritime and Coastgard Agency describes the craze as “a high-risk, unregulated activity, undertaken by unsupervised individuals”.
Despite the risks many people love the adrenaline rush of leaping from cliffs into water.
Orlando Bloom was pictured jumping off high-up rocks during his holiday in St. Barts in 2017.
The actor was pictured leaping into the sea as well as paddleboarding and spending time on a luxury yacht with friends including billionaire tech mogul Jim Clark.
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Why is tombstoning so dangerous?
Tombstoning is particularly dangerous as water depth can be unpredictable as it changes with the tide.
Water can often be shallower than it appears from above.
Other dangers include the shock of cold water, which can be as low as 15C in the summer.
The impact of jumping into dramatically cooler water can make it difficult to swim, or unanticipated currents can sweep swimmers away.
Entry into the water as well can be dangerous as your body position can change resulting in a belly-flop or landing on your back.
Murky water can also camouflage an array of hazards such as rocks or other sharp objects – meaning many tombstoners are jumping into the unknown.
In May 2020, a tombstoner was left unconscious after belly-flopping 200ft into the sea at Durdle Door, and had to be resuscitated.
A second man, aged about 25, suffered serious spinal injuries after jumping off cliffs into the sea. He was airlifted to hospital.
And a third man, also in his early 20s, is thought to have suffered a broken leg after leaping off the rocky arch and was taken to hospital by land ambulance.
Despite this people have still been heading to the coastal resort to plunge from the distinctive landmark.
How many tombstoning-related deaths have there been?
In the UK alone, there have been at least 20 fatalities since 2005 - with over 70 people injured by taking part in the stunt.
Notable cases of tombstoning going wrong include that of Vincent Wagstaff, 39, who was killed after landing on rocks near a yacht club in Plymouth, Devon.
Footage of his death was filmed on a mobile phone and was shown to the inquest.
The video showed the horrific moment the devoted dad misjudged the jump from a 33ft wall before he died of multiple injuries.
The inquest heard he had asked his cousin to film him so his son could upload the video to YouTube.
There have also been near misses, which have sadly ended in paralysis or other serious injuries.
A 29-year-old woman broke both of her legs after jumping from a 10ft high ledge into the water near Swanage in 2019.
In 2018, Josh Payne-Gover, 25, had to be airlifted to hospital after diving into shallow water at Weymouth Beach.
He broke his neck, had his lungs crushed and suffered severe spinal injuries after misjudging the water's depth.
On a JustGiving fundraising page in 2019 his mum, Michele, explained: “On the 30th of June, my son's life was changed forever.
"Whilst on a day at the beach enjoying the sunshine with friends, Josh dived off a 5 foot wall into shallow water.
“The impact crushed his neck and back, severely damaging his C7 vertebrae and spinal cord.
“As he lay there, face down in the water he attempted to swim, which is when his friends knew something was badly wrong.
“His friend heroically saved him from drowning that day, however that is when the extent of his injuries came to light.
“Unable to move his legs, it soon became obvious how lucky he was to still be breathing.
“He was quickly airlifted to Southampton hospital where he was assessed by professionals who sadly informed Josh that he may never walk again.”
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If I want to try tombstoning, how do I do it safely?
The has published this checklist for thrill-seekers:
- Check for hazards in the water. Rocks or other objects may be submerged and difficult to see
- Check the depth of the water. Remember tides can rise and fall very quickly
- As a rule of thumb, a jump of ten metres requires a depth of at least five metres
- Never jump whilst under the influence of alcohol or drugs
- Check for access. It may be impossible to get out of the water
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