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Teenager died in first try at tombstoning
A TEENAGER tragically drowned after jumping from South Tyneside cliffs for the very first time, an inquest heard.
Jamie Sutton got into difficulty after leaping 10ft from rocks near Whitburn's Souter Lighthouse in a dangerous craze known as tombstoning.
Yesterday, a hearing into his death on May 13 was told his friends made desperate attempts to reach him, but strong currents carried Jamie, from Rose Crescent, Whitburn, further out to sea.
He was eventually plucked, unconscious, from the water by a RAF helicopter guided by a crew from South Shields Volunteer Life Brigade.
Paramedics tried to revive him as his father Terence Sutton looked on, but the 17-year-old was later pronounced dead at South Tyneside District Hospital.
Coroner Terence Carney sent a warning out to young people of the dangers of taking part in the craze.
Mr Carney read out statements from Jamie's friends who saw the tragedy unfold after the teenager, who was wearing a wetsuit, jumped from the second highest point of the cliffs – known as the Pearly Gates.
Connor Alan, 15, said he saw former Whitburn CofE School pupil Jamie in difficulty and tried to reach him.
"I called out to him but he did not speak, I assumed the cold temperature of the water had taken his breath away. I went into the sea to try to save him, but felt the strong undercurrent underneath me.
"I shouted to him to grab my legs, but everything seemed to be in slow motion."
The friends all told in statements how they saw Jamie go under the water a number of times.
The hearing heard how friend Joseph Clark had taken part in cliff jumping before, but said Jamie hadn't.
A pathologist report carried out by Dr Stuart Hamilton revealed Jamie had been a healthy teenager and died as a result of drowning.
A toxicology report stated he had not been drinking nor had taken any drugs.
Recording a verdict of accidental death, Mr Carney, said: "This was a young man who was having fun.
"He was seeking to do something which he felt quite capable of being able to achieve.
"Unfortunately, he made an error of judgement and, unfortunately, the consequence of that was he suffered an awful penalty.
"This is quite clearly dangerous and should be treated as such. Young people should not be putting themselves at risk."
The warning by the coroner was today echoed by Greg Albrighton, sector manager of the Maritime and Coastguard Agency, who launched a campaign after Jamie's death.
He said: "Jumping off cliffs may be a risk too far.
"We know young people want to take risks, we understand that.
"We just want them to think about the consequences of that sort of activity because, sadly, one of those consequences is death. It can only take one leap for it to be fatal."
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Weather for South Shields
Tuesday 07 February 2012
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: -3 C to 6 C
Wind Speed: 9 mph
Wind direction: South west
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: -2 C to 1 C
Wind Speed: 10 mph
Wind direction: South
