Powerful Portsmouth campaign launched to show the real dangers of tombstoning in the city
A POWERFUL campaign has been launched to push back against young people tombstoning in Portsmouth.
Tombstoning – where people jump into the sea from a height – has been rife in the city for a number of years, with the Hot Walls and South Parade Pier being common hotspots.
But Portsmouth City Council is urging youngsters to reconsider what they’re doing, and think about the consequences if it all goes wrong.
The 'Sorry Mum' campaign posters, which will be displayed at strategic points along the seafront, feature vivid photographs of young people receiving emergency medical care in the aftermath of an accident.
According to the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA), over 80 per cent of those involved in the most serious tombstoning accidents were male and just over half the cases involved teenagers.
Deputy council leader, Cllr Steve Pitt, said: ‘The aim of this campaign is to make sure that when young people are out enjoying our coastline they are not putting themselves in harm's way.
‘Tombstoning is an activity that can have life-changing or even fatal consequences and we want people to stop and think about the devastating impact one wrong jump could have on them and their loved ones.
‘The sea may look inviting but when you jump in from a height, you risk shallow waters and submerged objects, as well as serious shock from cold water and strong currents that can make swimming and getting out of the water impossible.’
Sonny Wells, now 32, was left paralysed from the waist down after going tombstoning in 2008.
In May this year he told The News: ‘You need to think before you act. If it goes wrong then it will affect your life and everybody you know – all your family and friends.
‘Nobody should be doing this; it’s dangerous and staying safe is the most important thing.’
In June a young girl was seen leaping into the waters at Old Portsmouth.