The Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI)  has thought-provoking short film as part of a campaign to highlight the dangers of tombstoning. With summer holidays approaching, the charity is urging people to think twice before taking part in the dangerous activity, which involves jumping or diving from a height into water.

During the past five years, there have been 139 tombstoning incidents needing an emergency response, with 12 resulting in fatalities and many more resulting in spinal and limb injuries*.

The growing popularity of the high-risk activity has been noticed by the RNLI’s volunteer lifeboat crews, who have seen the number of lifeboat launches to tombstoning incidents double in the past four years. Between 2006 and 2009, the charity’s volunteer crews have launched to 64 tombstoning incidents, rescuing 38 people and saving six lives.

Just last week, the RNLI Shoreham lifeboat crew responded to a tombstoning accident, in which a teenage girl suffered serious injuries after jumping from a breakwater into shallow water in Shoreham Harbour. The incident provides a timely reminder of how dangerous tombstoning can be.

The short campaign film shows a group of young people gathered at the top of a cliff, urging someone to jump. As the camera breaks through the crowd, it reveals it is a young man in a wheelchair who is being encouraged by his peers to jump, before cutting to the warning: ‘Tombstoning. Sometimes there is no second chance’.

The film is targeted at young males, who are the main group known to participate in the activity. It can be viewed at

http://www.rnlivideolibrary.org.uk/getvideo.aspx?vid=Rl4dnHzs

and includes information on where people can find further safety advice.

Sonny Wells and his mother, Jacqui Unal, have experienced the devastation tombstoning can cause after Sonny was permanently paralysed after jumping from a pier in Southsea, Hampshire, two years ago.

Jacqui and Sonny, who was 20 at the time of the accident, have shared their story on a supporting film to reinforce the RNLI’s message and warn others of the serious dangers of the increasingly popular activity. Their film can be viewed at

http://www.rnlivideolibrary.org.uk/getvideo.aspx?vid=5XKpQsWl

Sonny says:

‘I was very active – I'd been in the army, was a keen footballer, I was always on my toes – until I dived off the pier in Southsea. It was something I'd done before but this time I broke my neck in three places and now suffer the consequences of being in a wheelchair for the rest of my life.

‘Three-quarters of my body doesn't work, so from being an able-bodied person to how I am now is a massive change. It's not just changed my life, it's changed my family's life. Just for that five minutes of madness, it's not worth it.’

Steve Wills, RNLI National Beach Safety Manager, says:

‘The two films aim to make people think hard about the potentially devastating implications of tombstoning. It is around this time each year the RNLI’s volunteer crews see tombstoning incident numbers start to rise, so we’re trying to prevent accidents by showing people what can happen when it goes wrong. Sadly, there have been several fatalities as a result of tombstoning – this time last year a teenage boy died after jumping from a cliff in Sunderland – but we also want to highlight the long-term effects spinal and limb injuries can have.

‘The RNLI does take a pragmatic approach and realises there will still be people who want to take part in tombstoning – what we’re trying to do is show why it can be dangerous and provide people with the right advice to make an informed judgement about if, when and where to jump.

‘We’re extremely grateful to Sonny and Jacqui for sharing their experience as part of the campaign. Their support is so valuable, to actually show other people the terrible impact tombstoning can have when it goes wrong. I’m sure hearing their account will make others think twice.’

The RNLI’s advice on tombstoning is as follows:

Tombstoning can be dangerous because: 

· Water depth alters with the tide – the water may be shallower than it seems 

· Submerged objects like rocks may not be visible – they can cause serious impact injuries if you land on them 

· The shock of cold water may make it difficult to swim 

· Strong currents can rapidly sweep people away.

Those who wish to participate in tombstoning can reduce the risks by remembering the following advice:

·  Check for hazards in the water. Rocks or submerged objects under the sea may not be visible through the surface 

·  Check the depth of the water. Remember tides can rise or fall very quickly – it may start off deep enough but can quickly become shallower 
·  As a rule of thumb, a jump of ten metres requires a depth of at least five metres 

·  Never jump while under the influence of alcohol, drugs or peer pressure 

·  Consider the risk to others. Conditions can change rapidly – remember young people could be watching and attempt to mimic the activity 

·  Check for access, it may be impossible to get out of the water

The RNLI is working with the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA), the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) and The Royal Lifesaving Society (RLSS) to highlight the dangers of tombstoning and inform people about the safest way to participate in the activity.

More information about tombstoning is available at www.rnli.org.uk/tombstoning.

* RoSPA incident statistics. See www.rospa.com