A GROUP has come under fire from emergency services and Durham County Council for risking their lives after one performed a daredevil backflip somersault off High Force.
Three members of thrill-seeking group “legends of the falls”, which travels across the UK to perform jumps from different locations, leapt from the top of the waterdall a day after it was in full flood following heavy rainfall. The group, which includes members Matty Harper, Luke Yardley, James Fuller and Chris Stevens, hold the UK record for the highest flip by an amateur for somersaulting off a 78ft rock face at Vivian Quarry, in North Wales. The latest stunt was filmed by friends and posted to social media, where it received more than 190,000 views in 12 hours.
A joint statement from Barnard Castle Police, the fire service, ambulance and Teesdale and Weardale Search and Mountain Rescue Team said: “We have been alerted to the fact that over the weekend a member of the public from outside the area has entirely at their own risk jumped from the top of High Force.
“As local residents already know, this is an extremely dangerous body of water and there have been a number of fatalities over the years – one of the most recent being a young male who entered the water to swim. This was during the summer months when weather conditions were good – this highlights that even during normal weather conditions it is incredibly dangerous to enter the water at this location.
“Over the weekend weather conditions were extremely dangerous with water levels being unusually high. The male was incredibly lucky to have left the water unscathed.”
Steve Owers, team leader of Teesdale and Weardale Search and Mountain Rescue Team, has appealed to members of the public not to follow suit.
He said: “My main concern is that not only does this type of behaviour put the emergency services in danger but if this male had got into difficulties, members of the public, or even his friends, may have been tempted to try to help, endangering more lives. This incident could have had a very different outcome.”
Ed Turner, Teesdale’s police inspector, added: “This activity is totally unacceptable and I do not condone such irresponsible behaviour. Having reviewed the footage and comments on social media I am encouraged that there has been an overwhelmingly negative reaction. All of the emergency services based in Teesdale would like to stress how important it is to take responsibility for your actions and also to think how your actions may affect others.”
Matty Harper, from West Yorkshire, who was one of the jumpers, said: “This is the biggest double flip I’ve ever sent – however the current held me under for a while and I really struggled to get out. I’m honestly lucky to be here. I strongly advise nobody to jump this waterfall.
“I respect the water and I’m discouraging anyone from doing this. It’s dangerous and I shouldn’t have done it. I posted in the tombstoning group straight away, willing that nobody ever jump this waterfall after what happened. The creator of an interactive map we use to locate spots has added the information, encouraging people not to jump it.”
Another member of the group said they were all equipped with winter wetsuits, neoprene socks and gloves, as well as ropes and harnesses. He added: “Safety is a huge thing with our group and we take it very seriously.
“Yes people see us as idiots but really we are a strong group that all love diving off cliffs.
“The current under the water was stronger than we all imagined and took him by surprise. He is very lucky to be here. That mistake will never happen again and this spot will never be jumped by us again.”
Rob Atkinson, an instructor at the Kingsway outward bound centre in Middleton-in-Teesdale, said: “Any time you enter the river you run the risk of cold water shock and they had no idea what the depth of water was. I definitely think they were putting themselves at risk.”
In the past 15 years three people have died in and around High Force.
