RNLI volunteers multi agency 'tombstoning' training

Appeal for youngsters to stop risking their lives

Exmouth RNLI volunteers were engaged in multi-agency training this week following on from numerous reports of tombstoning in the Exmouth Marina area. 

Volunteer Exmouth RNLI crew joined with emergency personnel from the South West Ambulance Service and their Hazardous Area Response Team to conduct a number of exercises based on rescuing casualties from the Exe Estuary and Exmouth Marina area. These specialist exercises were carried out following a series of recent reports that young persons had been engaged in dangerous ‘tombstoning’ in and around the area.

These intensive exercises involved several different and difficult rescue and recovery scenarios over three hours, all designed to best equip the emergency lifesavers to safely deal with such an incident in that locality.   

Exmouth RNLI volunteer crew, Harry Griffin, who led his team during the initiative, said, “As recently reported in the local media, we are aware of an increasing number of reports in and around the Exe Estuary and Exmouth Marina area of youngsters engaged in this extremely dangerous activity. The water is very shallow in those areas, with submerged rocks and other hidden debris on the seabed and there is the additional danger of unusually strong currents and cold water shock. Serious injury, or worse, is a very real consequence and my simple advice is “Please don’t do it!”