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

‘Idiotic’ tombstoners have been been filmed leaping into the sea – from the top of Plymouth ‘s historic Mayflower steps. The group of foolish thrillseekers risked their lives by hurling themselves into the water from the spot where the Pilgrims set sail to America in 1620 more than four centuries ago. The Mayflower Steps , flanked by the British and American flags, mark the place where 102 English passengers departed on their historic journey to the New World in 1620. The site features a commemorative portico constructed in 1934, which attracts thousands of tourists from across the world each year. However, witnesses were left staggered when a group scaled the structure to jump into the sea. One man leaps off the steps into the sea (Image: SWNS) Kenny Welsh, 41, said tombstoners were a regular site in Plymouth over the summer months and normally gather at a neighbouring spot known as Dead Man’s Cove. However, instead 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 were more than a few eyebrows raised. I said to an old lady – ‘of all the places why are they jumping from there’. A man climbs up the Mayflower Steps (Image: SWNS) “She was stunned by it and others were describing them all as idiotic. “They all just decided to take it one step further. “It was also incredibly dangerous. They were barely missing where the concrete was and was pretty dicey.” Another witness said: “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 jump into the water from so I just don’t understand why they see it fit to jump from such a notable place of American history. It really makes me sick. These youngster have no appreciation for the history of this great city.” The man prepares to leap (Image: SWNS) Police have previously hit out at the “madness” 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. Another man leaps from the Mayflower Steps (Image: SWNS) Devon and Cornwall Police have previously issued a warning. A spokesman said: “Tombstoning is a high-risk, unregulated activity where people jump or dive from height 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 jumping from a ledge on Plymouth Hoe. He had drunk a substantial amount of alcohol and landed on rocks before ending up in the water near the Royal Corinthian Yacht Club. He had told his friends: ‘Don’t worry, I know what I’m doing’. “He died of multiple injuries.”