Tombstoning is dangerous

We don't want to be seen as the fun police and we are aware that generations of young people have done tombstoning at various freshwater and saltwater spots in the St Austell and St Blazey area.

Unfortunately in the last heatwave 13 people lost their lives following incidents in freshwater locations in the UK. A number of these were children.

Tombstoning is inherently dangerous with the risk of serious and death from diving into shallow water, colliding with submerged hazards and getting into difficulty in the water due to currents and swell.

There is also the strong risk of cold water shock with the incapacitating effect on the body of entering water 15°C and below is often underestimated. This shock can be the precursor to drowning.

Read more from the RNLI about cold water shock - https://rnli.org/safety/know-the-risks/cold-water-shock

Read more from RoSPA about the dangers of tombstoning - https://orlo.uk/dRrU4