Cliff jumpers back on beach closed after three were hurt
SCORES of beachgoers have defied attempts to close a coastal beauty spot a day after three people were seriously injured jumping off cliffs into the sea.
So-called tombstoners were yesterday seen leaping from 00ft high Durdle Door, a sea arch in Dorset where a large crowd escaping lockdown was told to leave by the emergency services on Saturday.
The area was supposed to be closed ‘until further notice’ but Lulworth Coastguard Rescue Team (CRT) said people were on the beach and jumping into the sea again yesterday.
Dorset Police said ‘tombstoners’ were jumping from the arch on Saturday ‘encouraged by the crowds’. As well as the three injured men they had to deal with alcohol-fuelled minor scuffles. A
woman also suffered a suspected broken ankle and there was a small but out of control fire from a barbecue.
‘Upsetting scenes like we and many others witnessed yesterday illustrate how very dangerous tombstoning is. We couldn’t discourage it enough,’ the CRT posted on Facebook.