‘Idiotic’ vacationers slammed for ‘risking their lives’ tombstoning

‘Idiotic’ tombstoners have been been filmed leaping into the ocean – from the highest of Plymouth’s historic Mayflower steps.

The group of silly thrillseekers risked their lives by hurling themselves into the water from the spot the place the Pilgrims set sail to America in 1620 greater than 4 centuries in the past.

The Mayflower Steps, flanked by the British and American flags, mark the place the place 102 English passengers departed on their historic journey to the New World in 1620.

The website contains a commemorative portico constructed in 1934, which attracts 1000’s of tourists from the world over annually.

However, witnesses had been left staggered when a gaggle scaled the construction to leap into the ocean.

Kenny Welsh, 41, stated tombstoners had been an everyday website in Plymouth over the summer season months and usually collect at a neighbouring spot often called Dead Man’s Cove.

However, as an alternative the youths opted to scale above the steps for the 20ft plunge.

Me Welsh added: “I haven’t seen that before. Genuinely people around were stunned by what they were seeing.

“There had been various eyebrows raised. I stated to an outdated girl – ‘of all the places why are they jumping from there’.

“She was stunned by it and others were describing them all as idiotic.

“They all simply determined to take it one step additional.

“It was also incredibly dangerous. They were barely missing where the concrete was and was pretty dicey.”

Another witness stated: “It’s one thing tombstoning but to do so at a place of such historical importance is beyond me.

“There are so many areas to leap into the water from so I simply do not perceive why they see it match to leap from such a notable place of American historical past. It actually makes me sick. These teen haven’t any appreciation for the historical past of this nice metropolis.”

Police have previously hit out at the “insanity” of youngsters tombstoning at neighbouring Dead Man’s Cove in Plymouth – an area that has claimed lives and badly injured others.

The site is a hotspot for the reckless activity in the summer.

The location is the same spot where dad-of-three Vincent Wagstaff, 39, died from multiple injuries in October 2016.

The deadly craze returns every year and coastguards have repeatedly warned against the activity.

In July 2010, teenager Ben Thompson was also left paralysed when he broke his neck in three places jumping from an eight-foot wall at the same cove.

Devon and Cornwall Police have previously issued a warning.

A spokesman said: “Tombstoning is a high-risk, unregulated exercise the place individuals soar or dive from peak into water.

“A number of tombstoners have been killed or seriously injured plunging into deep water off cliffs and harbour walls.

“A 39-year-old man died in 2016 after leaping from a ledge on Plymouth Hoe. He had drunk a considerable quantity of alcohol and landed on rocks earlier than ending up within the water close to the Royal Corinthian Yacht Club. He had instructed his mates: ‘Don’t fear, I do know what I’m doing’.

“He died of multiple injuries.”