Risking their lives

Reporter A GROUP of lads risked their lives by tombstoning into the water at Cullercoats Bay.

The Tynemouth Volunteer Life Brigade was called to the beauty spot on Monday following reports youths were jumping into the sea.

They were warned of the dangers by lifeboat volunteers, but some of the group moved along the coastline and carried on.

Risking serious injury or even death, tombstoning involves jumping off rocks or cliffs into the water below.

TVLB captain Peter Lilley said: “While team members were on a local area patrol, UK Coastguard tasked them to Cullercoats Bay to speak to a large group of youths who had been observed to be tombstoning from a dangerous position.

“After brigade members arrived on scene and spoke with the group they then proceeded to a different area of the coastline, where a small number continued to jump into the sea.

“The group were monitored for a short period of time before the brigade was stood down by the Coastguard and resumed its patrol.”

The reckless behaviour comes just two weeks after another large group of boys were spotted tombstoning in Whitley Bay.

The large group of around 20 youths were spotted leaping from rocks by a member of the public.

UK Coastguard contacted the TVLB, who dispatched seven crew members to the scene.

The group had already been spoken to by two police community support officers (PCSO) but had continued to jump into the sea.

Brigade members and PCSCOs then spoke to the group again, and the majority of the youths left the area.