Moment daredevils are caught tombstoning into shallow water as they run and jump off 20ft high sea walls
A video has captured a group of thrill-seekers "tombstoning" by running and leaping off a sea wall roughly 20ft high into water below that was too shallow to safely absorb the fall. The footage highlights a well-known safety concern around this practice, as jumping into water of unknown or shallow depth from significant heights can cause serious injury or death, and such incidents are frequently the subject of warnings from coastguards and safety officials.
Tombstoning, so called because participants enter the water vertically like a falling tombstone, has repeatedly drawn criticism and safety warnings in the UK, with authorities urging people to check water depth and tidal conditions before jumping from coastal structures. Beyond the brief description of the clip and its headline, the original article contained no further verifiable details, such as the specific location, the identities of those involved, or whether anyone was injured.
- Group filmed tombstoning off a 20ft-high sea wall into shallow water.
- Practice is considered dangerous due to unpredictable water depth.
- Further specifics on location or injuries were not available in the source.
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Tombstoning is jumping from a height into water, often from sea walls, cliffs or harbour structures. The name refers to the upright position some people use as they enter the water.
The danger is that water depth and conditions can be hard to judge, and a fall from height can cause severe injury or death if the water is too shallow. UK coastguards and other safety officials have warned people to consider depth and tides before jumping.
Sea walls are built to protect coastlines and may not be designed for jumping. The people shown in the footage have not been identified, and the reported information does not say where it was filmed or whether anyone was hurt.