Dundee police issue ‘tombstoning’ warning

THE Tayside Division of Police Scotland today issued an urgent warning about the potential dangers of taking to the water during the current heatwave after a man jumped into the River Tay from the Queen’s Bridge at Perth.

Police have issued a warning over 'tombstoning' after a man jumped off the Queen's Bridge at Perth. Picture: TSPL

A force spokesman said: “Each summer, the emergency services have to deal with tragic incidents which have happened when people have got into difficulty on the water. Tayside is not immune and has witnessed tragedy in recent years.

“This afternoon, police officers had to warn a man – thought to be in his 30s - about his behaviour after he jumped from the Queen’s Bridge at Perth. He was uninjured but the consequences of his actions could have been more serious.”

He continued: “Police Scotland would also discourage people from the dangerous act of ‘tombstoning’, whether from cliffs, harbour walls or, indeed, bridges. Jumping or diving into water from a height is inherently dangerous given uncertainty over the water’s depth and the force at which the person can enter the water.

“Playing in and around a busy harbour is also very clearly unsafe and there have been near misses in recent years between fishing boats and youngsters jumping into and swimming in harbour areas.”

The spokesman said: “Police officers will take appropriate action where they find irresponsible behaviour of this kind. Tayside Division appeals to anyone who witnesses the potentially life-changing, or life-threatening practice of tombstoning to contact them immediately.”