Take care along cliffs and coastal footpaths. Image: Isle of Wight Photo Agency.
If you are going to the coast please take care along cliffs and coastal footpaths, especially if walking along the cliff paths around the Isle of Wight.
The gradient at which cliffs fall away from the paths can be deceptive and, following on from the prolonged period of wet weather, some cliff edges may be slippery or unstable. Keep your dog on a lead along the top of cliffs. If your dog does run onto a cliff edge or fall down a cliff do not follow it. Call 999 and ask for the Coastguard.
The warm weather has also led to youths jumping into rivers or the sea from bridges and other high features, in some cases leading to severe paralysing injuries and worse. River levels drop rapidly in dry and sunny weather so don’t assume it is safe to jump into any river from height. Jumping from piers, cliffs, rocks or other structures into the sea can be very dangerous. What was a deep pool at lunchtime might be a shallow puddle by teatime due to the tide and you don’t know what lurks under the surface. During the past six years there have been 16 deaths and 50 serious injuries caused by this type of activity.
If you want to jump from height into water, you may wish to join a coasteering trip with a reputable adventure centre or go to a swimming pool where there are diving boards.
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