Coastguard warning over jumping from rocks after Belfast teen’s tragic death

The youth’s three friends “made valiant efforts to try and rescue him” after they got into difficulty in the water at Dunluce Castle, near Bushmills on Tuesday around 5pm, the coastguard said.

The RNLI, coastguard helicopter, lifeguards, paramedics and PSNI all responded.

Two of those in the water were able to make it back to shore and one was taken from the water by helicopter to coastguards on the cliff top. An RNLI lifeboat recovered the fourth person from the water and passed him to paramedics.

Alistair Simpson, Station Officer with Coleraine Coastguard, said the four friends appeared to be in their late teens and had been ‘tombstoning’, a leisure activity of jumping vertically into water from cliffs or piers. 

It is often carried out as part ‘Coasteering’, in which groups climb, jump and swim along rocky foreshores.

The youth who died, understood to be from Belfast, had sustained a head injury and was pronounced deceased after emergency medical attention.

“We would see quite a lot of kids doing this sort of thing in this area,” Mr Simpson said. “The problem is that you don’t know what you are jumping into or the depth.

“The water can be deceptive and the swell can wash you back against the rocks after you jump in.”

Coasteering is a great activity, he said, but the safe way to do it is with organised group which is properly equipped and carries out risk assessments. The safety equipment which should always be worn is a wet suit, life jacket and helmet, he added.

Mr Simpson’s colleague, Judith McNeice, told the BBC the teenager’s three friends “made valiant efforts to try and rescue him” and they could take comfort from the fact that they had done everything they could to save him.

The Coastguard urged those taking part in tombstoning “to have fun but stay safe when out enjoying our beautiful beaches and coastlines”.

“Jumping from piers, cliffs, rocks or other structures into the sea can be very dangerous,” it said. “The depth of the water can dramatically change with the tide and you don’t know what hazards may be lurking under the surface until you are hurt or worse. The shock of cold water may make it difficult to swim and strong currents can quickly sweep people away.” If you see anyone in trouble call 999.

Bobby Marno, owner of Ballintoy based company Coasteering NI, runs organised events along the north coast but said it was increasingly common for individuals to engage in the practise on their own.

“People need to be aware of the dangers involved,” he said. “But if they really must be doing it on their own then at the very least they should be wearing a helmet and a bouancy aid.”

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