A 19-year-old man has died after falling from rocks into the River Wharfe in the Yorkshire Dales.
See BBC News.
Shallow water is frequently the cause of serious injury while tombstoning, but in this case it was the climb back up the rocks that resulted in Joel Scott falling and suffering fatal head and back injuries.
The climb back out of the water after a successful jump can be just as dangerous as the jump itself.
If this is a first jump in a particular area then make sure you have carried out a good check of the water depth and your exit route (see checking the water below in the safety section). Having done this you should know the climb out of the water is possible, and you can get back to a safe point once your first jump is complete.
In this incident it looks like Joel had been jumping from the same spot for some time and it could have been a slip due to tiredness that caused him to fall. Jumping in to the water can be the easiest bit; it’s the climb back out that requires more planning and a better understanding of your fitness and ability.
These pictures show how easy it can be to get in to the water, but once there a 40ft climb is required to get you back to the same spot. You need to be sure you are ready for that climb before every jump.
November 17th, 2009 at 3:45 pm
[...] post about the incident (19-year-old falls from rocks) is still available on this [...]