Right or wrong? Pic of Llangollen Bridge jumpers sparks debate

The current warm weather in North Wales is encouraging thrill-seekers to take up 'tombstoning' (jumping into water from a high point) with the River Dee a regular target.

The picture of the jumpers - taken by Sarah Lloyd - sparked a great debate on Facebook earlier this week.

It split opinion between those who had great concerns over the safety of the youngsters and those who just wanted to let them have their fun.

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Sarah said: "I was watching the guys jumping in and I was worried that the level of the river might fluctuate, between morning and afternoon. 

"That would then mean hazards or obstructions in the water that might not have been there when they were there in the morning might have been in the afternoon and so I was worried they would hurt or cut themselves.

"But I've done risk-taking activities myself such as skateboarding and parachuting and so I can appreciate the risk-taking element of it, they seemed to be enjoying themselves."

Upon posting the picture to the 'Llangollen and District Noticeboard' on Facebook, over 150 messages flooded in from locals who were seemingly torn about whether or not the youths should be jumping off the bridge.

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One commenter said: "Reading the comments I find myself interested by how we judge risk, in general terms, as a society. Driving is a hugely risky activity yet people don’t say it’s a strain on the NHS despite the many accidents - so I’d say our risk perception is biased.

"So often our risk evaluation is also not balanced by an assessment of the benefits of the activity. I would view this activity as having many benefits for health as well as the obvious risks."

Another agreed adding: "This is known for Llan Bridge! Let them have some fun. My dad used to do it as a kid, so did my older brother - it's a Llan thing."

A third shared the same views and said: "Oh come on, health and safety is far too over the top these days. I remember doing it and it was amazing."

But others were concerned for the youths' safety.

One user said: "Maybe very tempting but can also be very dangerous."

PIC: One of the youths takes a jump off Llangollen Bridge. Picture by Sarah Lloyd.

Another backed that up, adding: "Idiots. Unfortunately, even if one of them dies, all that will happen is that lots of people will cry out 'how could this happen?' 'Why did no-one stop them?' and other such ineffective phrases.

"Maybe a few individuals will patrol the bridge for a week or two to put other boys off doing it, then it'll all go back to normal. Stupid people doing stupid things."

A third in opposition said: "I've known a few to die from this."

Others re-called incidents from years gone by. One said: "I can remember a lad jumping off the bridge about 32 years ago and he landed on the rocks on the left. Took the ambulance ages to get him up, he was tanked up so he could not have much pain relief."

Tombstoning has been banned in other parts of North Wales - such as Pont-y-Pair in Betws-y-Coed due to safety concerns.

What do you make of the tombstoning in Llangollen? Let us know in the comments below.